- 96 - 



again no better prices should be obtained, the interest will be further 

 paralysed. The yield of oil this season is described as unfavourable, 

 and as, owing to the bad climatic conditions the plants have not devel- 

 oped particularly well, distilling was delayed until the end of August 

 so as to give the plantations the longest possible time for further 

 development. 



1908 1909 1909 oil of 1908 in 



this year's total farmers' hands 



2194 acres 348 acres 1856 acres 23000 lbs. 



1656 „ 474 „ 1348 „ 1 1 000 „ 



1592 „ 203 „ 1295 „ 10000 „ 



649 „ 195 „ 35b „ 10000 „ 



616 „ 140 „ 353 „ 32000 „ 



550 „ 205 „ 620 „ 6000 „ 



420 „ 128 „ 294 „ 12000 „ 



290 „ 95 „ 189 „ 7000 „ 



172 „ 2Q „ III „ I5OO „ 



a) Michigan. 



Allegan Co. . 

 Cass Co. . . 

 Van Buren Co. 

 St. Joseph Co. 

 Berrien Co. . 

 Eaton Co. 

 Kalamazoo Co. 

 Branch Co. . 

 Muskegon Co. 



Total 



8339 acres 



18 1 7 acres 



6422 acres 



1 12 500 lbs. 



b) Indiana. 











La Grange Co. . 



1500 acres 



30 acres 



530 acres 



2000 lbs. 



Noble Co . . 



818 „ 



100 „ 



39° » 



3000 „ 



Steuben Co. . 



400 „ 



55 >; 



155 » 



5000 „ 



St. Joseph Co. 



1400 „ 



-330 „ 



1060 „ 



8000 „ 



Total 4 1 1 8 acres 5 1 5 acres 2135 acres 1 8 000 lbs. 



Altogether, therefore, there are this year 8557 acres under pepper- 

 mint-cultivation in Michigan and Indiana, of which 2332 are new 

 plantations. The stock of old oil is estimated at not less than 

 130500 lbs. In order to explain the not inconsiderable difference 

 between the figures given above for 1908 and the statements made 

 in our November Report of last year 1 ), we desire to point out that 

 last year's estimates could only be completed and corrected as time 

 went on. Anyone who knows the difficulties connected with the com- 

 pilation of such statistics on the spot will immediately admit the 

 possibility of such divergencies. 



It is quite evident from these two reports that there will be no 

 scarcity of American peppermint oil during the coming season, and 

 that very strong exterior influence would be required in order to 

 drive the prices to a higher level. In America the general opinion 

 is that in the course of the present autumn the value will advance, 



*) Report November 1908, 98. 



