COMMERCIAL PRODUCTION OF THYMOL FROM HORSEMINT. 3 



CULTURAL METHODS FOR HORSEMINT. 



PLANTING THE SEED. 



The seed of horsemint matures in the Southeastern States during 

 August and September and is ready to be gathered as soon as the 

 calyx is dry and has assumed a dark-brown color. If left too long 

 the largest and best seed will be lost and only the inferior seed 

 will remain for collection. The seed can readily be gathered by 

 hand by stripping off the entire heads, together with such leaves 

 or bracts as remain on the stem. This material should be spread 

 on a cloth or tight floor and as soon as it is thoroughly dry the seeds 

 can be removed by rubbmg through a sieve having 12 to 16 meshes 

 to the inch, common window screenmg being about the right size. 

 Further sifting and very gentle winnowing will remove most of the 

 foreign material. 



In the extreme Southeastern States, where the winters are free 

 from severe frosts and snow, the best results are secured by planting 

 the seed about the first of November in a carefuUy prepared seed bed. 

 In order to avoid too thick sowing it is advisable to mix the seed with 

 dry sand and sow the mixture evenly on the seed bed. A bed of 15 

 square feet wiU provide enough plants for an acre if properly planted. 



After the seed has been sown, a layer of fine soil about one-eighth 

 of an inch thick should be sifted over it and the bed well shaded by 

 cloth. A good form of seed bed is that used by market gardeners 

 in the South for raising celery plants. The soil should be kept 

 moist, and as soon as the plants begin to come up the cloth should 

 be removed. The seed wOl germinate in from six to ten days, and at 

 two months from sowing the plants should be 2 inches high and ready 

 for transplanting to the fields. If this work is done following a rain 

 and the soil is in good condition no watering is necessary. 



SOILS. 



Horsemint occurs wild on light sandy soils and under cultivation 

 has given the best results on this type of soil. It is essentially a 

 lime-loving plant and its culture has not been successful on soils 

 which were strongly acid, nor on heavy clays or low land where 

 the drainage was poor or the amount of moisture excessive. The 

 best results have been secured on rich, well-drained sandy loam, 

 underlain with marl or clay at a depth of from 2 to 3 feet. Consid- 

 ering all the factors involved in the commercial production of this 

 plant, it probably would be advisable to make plantings on light 

 sands, such as the high pine lands of the Southeastern States. Horse- 

 mint occasionally occurs wild in dry fields on sandy soils from south- 

 ern New York to Florida and westward to Wisconsin, Kansas, "and 

 Texas. It probably would thrive under cultivation wherever it is 

 found growing wild, although its profitable production will depend 

 upoli local economic conditions. 



