118 On the Cultivation of Mentha Piperita, 



submitted the plant to distillation, and being of the opinion 

 that its quality was excellent, I forwarded samples to 

 several competent judges in England, with the accompanying 

 letter : — 



"I herewith, send you a sample of an Essential Oil of Peppermint, 

 distilled from the green and cultivated plant grown in the mountainous 

 district of Victoria, with the request that you will favour me with an 

 opinion as to its quaUty and marketable value if forwarded in large 

 quantities. I may add, that being aware of the cost of labour 

 attendant on its growth, I value its minimum price delivered in London, 

 at 25s. per lb. The oil was distilled from the growing plant when in 

 flower, and may be relied on as representing any future quantity in 

 bulk. Sp. Grav. -904." 



The following are the reports received : — 



Messrs. Meggeson and Co. : — 



" It is quite as strong as either the English or American, and 

 although better flavour than American, not so good as what we use of 

 Mitcham growth ; it is very similar in flavour to the Oil grown in 

 Scotland." 



Mr. Wilson, or rather his successor, Mr. Cooper, says : — 



" We can hardly say what its value really is, but have no doubt if 

 climatic influence permit, it will be an article of commerce in the not far 

 distant future. There is a pungency about it above the American, 

 but the flavour is weedy, which will soon be remedied by attention, 

 and we should not be surjDrised to find it competing some day with our 

 Mitcham growth." 



Messrs. Quincey and Sou rejDort : — 



" We have examined the sample of Oil of Peppermint, think it good, 

 but we think you had better rely on the report of Messrs. Meggeson 

 and Co., as regards the actual quality as compared with English, 

 upon which will depend its market value." 



Messrs. Homer and Son report : — 



" We have examined the Oil of Peppermint distilled in Australia, 

 the quality seems very good, we consider, at first, it would not bring 

 more than 25s. ; but, in time, as it became appreciated, it might bring 

 more money. Messrs. Langton. Scott and Co., consider it the best 

 foreign oil they have seen, but doubt if at first it would fetch 25s." 



Messrs. Bush and Co. report :— 



" We consider it very good quality, about equal to our Cambridge 

 Mint ; we had submitted to us lozenges made by Meggeson and Co., 

 three kinds, one lot containing Mitcham Oil, another lot containing 

 Australian, and another containing Hatchkiss' American ; we picked 

 out those made with the American at once as the worst, but were vrrong 

 with the other two, for we judged the Australian Oil made lozenges to 

 be the Mitcham and vice versa ; we think 25s. to be an outside price to 

 be expected at first, but will afterward improve in price. There is a 

 herby flavour about it which may be got over by cultivation." 



