2 ol * |The: Dapacenent of Merieuliire fi anther sites that’ on the muck lands of Southern 
@ Michigan and Northern Indiana, where mint cultivation has become particularly highly 
4 developed, the cost of establishing an acre of new mint and caring for it during the 
first season is placed at about §' 30.—. In subsequent years the cost would be about 
__ § 15.— per acre, but these estimates do not include expenditure for fertilizers, taxes, 
_ interest on the land, equipment, superintendence and other overhead charges of similar 
character. In Wayne County, New York, where peppermint is cultivated on uplands, 
_ the cost of preparing the land is somewhat less, but the tillage costs are higher as 
much more hand labour is required. In the New York district the industry seems to 
_be declining but in Michigan and Indiana many of the growers have invested con- 
which enables them to handle the product in an economical manner. 
The yield of oil per acre varies from almost nothing to nearly 100 Ibs. About 
oil in commercial practice. The price varies as widely as the yield. For peppermint 
oil in tins, however, the average price for the last forty years has been in the neigh- 
bourhood of about §' 2.50 a pound although it has sometimes fallen as low as 75 cents. 
Spearmint oil, which used to be a little cheaper than peppermint, has averaged for 
_ the past five years about § 3.65 a pound. It must, however, be remembered, that these 
prices are somewhat higher than those which the producer would receive. 
_ In Michigan and Indiana the large plantations have, of late years, installed their 
own distilling plants, many of these being elaborate and expensive. As regards 
_ grown in the United States is distilled in comparatively small plants which usually 
serve the needs of several growers. : 
Both peppermint and spearmint thrive best in deep soils rich in humus and reten- 
_ tive of moisture but fairly open in texture and well drained. They may also be grown 
a successfully i in well prepared upland soils such as those suitable for corn and potatoes. 
4 tillage. The tillage is also continued as long as possible during the growth of the 
‘crop, for successful mint growing requires clean culture at all stages. The crop is 
It is, as a rule, allowed to dry partially in the field before being hauled to the still. 
Laboratory experiments show that this practice results in an appreciable loss of oil, 
but growers do not consider the loss to be sufficient to offset the increased cost of 
handling and distilling the green herb*). Exposure to frost, however, must be avoided, 
as frozen mint yields scarcely one-half of the normal quantity of oil. 
against a form of chlorosis, due, apparently, to an excess of moisture in the soil.. On 
_ the other hand, ground bone, acid phosphate (see page 44) and lime do not seem to 
be of marked benefit. Peppermint does not appear to be troubled by many diseases 
a rust fungus sometimes appears and crickets, grasshoppers and caterpillars may do 
some damage. On suitable soil and with proper cultivation yields of from two to 
1) Distillation of the green herb has its drawbacks; it lasts longer than with dried herb; moreover, 
substances pass into the oil which readily oxidize, and which would be rendered innocuous by previous 
drying. See Gildemeister und Hoffmann, Die dtherischen Ole, 294-ed., vol. II, p. 551. 
-_ siderable capital in the business and have provided themselves with an equipment 
325 Ibs. of peppermint and 340 Ibs. of spearmint are required to produce a pound of 
growers who do not have their own distilling plant, the customary charge for distilling 
their oil has been fixed for many years at 25 cents per pound. The bulk of the mint — 
The area selected should be planted with some plant requiring clean and frequent 
cut at the time of full bloom which, with new plantings, is usually early in September. | 
To stimulate the growth of mint nitrate of soda at the rate of 50 to 150 Ibs. to — 
the acre is recommended as fertilizer and potash appears to be particularly useful — 
and pests and spearmint is practically free from them all. During very wet seasons - 
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