— 53 — 



The value of landed property has risen considerably during the 

 last few years, and as the roots are still scarce and dear, it may be 

 assumed with a fair amount of certainty that the peppermint oil industry 

 in Wayne County will not again attain its former dimensions. In some 

 districts complaints are also made about considerable difficulties in 

 procuring labour. 



The following area is under cultivation with new plants: — 



Williamson .... 4 acres 



Marion 3772 » 



Palmyra 2^/ 2 „ 



Sodus 38 „ 



Arcadia . . . . .151 „ 



Junius I2y 2 „ 



Galen 12 „ 



Rose 5Y2 ;, 



Lyons 125 



Phelps 7 » 



Total 416 acres. 

 If the yield of oil is calculated at 25 lbs. per acre, this would give 

 a result of 10,400 lbs. We estimate the plantations of last year's and 

 of older peppermint at about 300 acres, which with a yield of 7 lbs. 

 per acre would produce 2100 lbs. To this should be added the stocks 

 of last year's oil, 5300 lbs., which were held back by the producers 

 in the expectation of higher prices, so that this year in all about 

 17,800 lbs. Wayne County oil will be available for consumption. 



II. Michigan and Indiana. 



In Michigan the following area is this year under cultivation with 

 peppermint: — 



Berrien Co. 



805 



acres, 



of which 



newly planted 175 



Cass Co. 



205 



» 



» j> 



>> 



25 



St. Joseph Co. . 



1043 



>> 



11 i) 



>> 



„ 168 



Branch Co. 



340 



>> 



5? >> 



?? 



40 



Kalamazoo Co. 



680 



» 



» n 



j> 



120 



van Buren Co. 



1218 



5) 



» j) 



?> 



152 



Allegan Co. 



2180 



» 



»> jj 



» 



890 



Muskegan Co. 



785 



>? 



i) J? 



)> 



95 



Total 7316 acres. 

 The aspect of most fields is not particularly gratifying. In con- 

 sequence of cold weather during the spring months, the plants are 

 very backward, and at the time when they really ought to be about 

 a foot high, they measured only 4 to 6 inches, whilst the shoots which 

 are so important for the result, were almost entirely absent. Although 



