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As it is possible to introduce the cultivation of peppermint to 

 advantage in many British Colonies, the Bulletin of the Imperial 

 Institute 1 ) publishes for general information a review on the cultivation 

 of the peppermint plant and the production of the oil in the various 

 countries concerned. 



As is well known, the largest quantities of peppermint oil are 

 produced in the United States, Japan, France and England, smaller 

 quantities being also obtained in Germany, Italy and Russia. The 

 oil distilled in America and Europe is derived from varieties of 

 Mentha piperita, while the Japanese oil is obtained from Mentha arvensis. 

 Two varieties of peppermint are specially known, the so-called "black 

 mint" (Mentha piperita var. vulgaris) and the "white mint" {Mentha 

 piperita var. officinalis). The first-named is the hardier and produces 

 a larger proportion of oil; the latter yields less oil but of finer 

 quality. 



In tlie United States, peppermint plantations have been laid down 

 in the States of New York, Indiana, but principally in Michigan. 

 According to its condition the soil, after the second crop, is either 

 sown for 5 years successively with clover, corn or other produce, before 

 being again laid under peppermint; or the peppermint is allowed to 

 grow 6 or 7 years in succession on the same soil, the land being 

 ploughed up after every crop and the succeeding years' plants being 

 grown from runners. 



The roots, which are used for planting, are from 1 / 8 to 1 / 4i in. thick 

 and 1 to 3 ft. long, and are laid in the prepared soil in furrows at 

 distances of 3 ft., forming long separate lines. An expert workman can 

 plant about one acre a day. Within about a fortnight the plants 

 begin to show aboveground, and the land is then carefully hoed 

 and cultivated until, in Juli and August, the runners which have devel- 

 oped make further cultivating difficult. If towards the end of the season 

 the weather turns very wet the plants are apt to be attacked by what 

 is known as "rust", which causes the leaves to drop off. It is necessary 

 to keep the ground free from weeds, as any weeds with a strong 

 odour, when gathered along with the peppermint, may injuriously affect 

 the quality of the oil. The harvest begins in the second half of 

 August, when the plants are in full flower, and lasts until the middle 

 of September. Distilling continues day and night until everything is 

 worked up. The highest yield and the best quality of oil are ob- 

 tained from the first year's cutting. The oil-yield from the same field 

 varies considerably, the atmospheric conditions prevailing during the 

 harvest apparently influencing it. Mint cut after a warm and humid 

 night gives more oil than that cut after a cool dry night. 



*) Bull. Imp. Inst. 7 (1909), i* 



