182 MUCK CROPS 



would kill the parasites without injuring the 

 plant to such an extent that it would be use- 

 less for the purpose for which it was raised, 

 which is its essential oil." 



Harvesting and Distilling. "Distilling is 

 accomplished usually in August and Sep- 

 tember, when the plants are just in bloom, or 

 as nearly as possible. The 'old' mint (which 

 is the crop that has come up spontaneously 

 from the planting of preceding years) 

 matures earliest, sometimes in July, but 

 generally not until the first half of August. 

 It is distilled at that time. The cutting is 

 done the first year by hand. The mint is 

 allowed to dry fairly well in the swath, but 

 it is raked up before it becomes so dry that 

 the leaves will break off. The 'new' mint 

 matures a couple of weeks later and is dis- 

 tilled after the old has been cared for. It is 

 then raked into bunches, where it may lie 

 for a day or two, if the weather is good, be- 

 fore distilling, since the oil is all contained 

 in the leaves and in the blossom. As soon 

 as dried, the bunches are drawn to the dis- 

 tilleries and distilled." 



Yields, etc. "The yield per acre usually 

 varies from one to three tons, depending 

 upon the growth and the thoroughness with 



