PEPPERMINT. 



29 



The following table gives the highest and lowest prices of pepper 

 mint oil in bulk from 1873 to September 16, 1905 : 



Year. 



Highest. 



Lowest. 



Year. 



Highest. 



Lowest. 



Year. 



Highest. 



Lowest. 



1873 



S3. 15 

 5.25 

 5.50 

 3.75 

 3.00 

 2.00 

 2.65 

 2.87 

 2.85 

 2.50 

 2.60 



S3. 15 

 3.75 

 3.20 

 2.40 

 1.75 

 1.50 

 1.45 

 2.60 

 2.35 

 2.25 

 2.20 



1884 



1885 



1886 



1887 



1888 



1889 



1890 



1891 



1892 



1893.. 



1894 



S3. 00 

 4.37 

 3.60 

 2.75 

 2.40 

 2.30 

 2.40 

 2.50 

 2.50 

 2.45 

 2.45 



S2.50 

 2.75 

 2.75 

 1.90 

 1.75 

 1.80 1 

 1.80 

 2.45 

 2.15 

 2.15 

 1.70 



1895 



1896 



1897 



1898 



1899 



1900 



1901 



1902 



1903 



1904 



1905* 



$2.00 

 1.85 

 1.25 

 .90 

 .90 

 1.10 

 1.80 

 4.75 

 4.75 

 3.75 

 3.45 



SI. 70 

 1 20 



1874 



1875 



.90 



1876. . 



80 



1877 



1878 .. 



.75 

 80 



1879 



1.10 



1880.. 



1881 



1882 



1883 



1.70 

 2.20 

 2.65 

 2.25 



* To September 16. 



The good prices of the past few years have caused many farmers 

 to look again to peppermint as a profitable crop, as noted in increased 

 areas under cultivation in many localities. This is the case not only 

 in Michigan and Indiana, but also in New York, where for many 

 years the peppermint industry has been declining. Thus, if favor- 

 able conditions of growth prevail, an increased production may be 

 looked for within the next few years, which will have the effect of 

 again depressing prices. 



As is the case with other products the prices of which are subject 

 to great fluctuations, the condition of the market for peppermint oil 

 needs to be closely observed. The cost of cultivation per acre has 

 been stated at from $12 to $14, and, with a charge of 25 cents per 

 pound of oil for distillation, the market price may easily fall below 

 the cost of production. 



a From Oil, Paint, and Drug Reporter, September 18, 1905, p. 7. 



