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a sits » : 
“Notes oN SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH. ithe 79 
Str 2 om just like areelica, only that they need not be farther apart from each other 
than 40cm. in every direction. The second year, the plants must be covered with 
long straw, in winter, so as to protect them against frost. Lovage thrives even in 
_ exposed places, but requires good soil. 
% Balm-mint (Melissa officinalis, L., Labiate) is propagated by dividing the plants. 
_ Only if it is a question of creating rash plantations, the seeds are sown in April and 
the young plants put out on a field in the following spring, 40 cm. apart all round. 
Breasy in the second year, a bushy plant will develop, about 30 cm. high. Balm-mint 
_ is sensitive to frost, as may be deducted from the yellow colour of the leaves, when 
3 Rie temperature has been low. It thrives in fairly high and exposed places, if there 
are no unforeseen. unfavourable climatic influences. Misty valleys are to be avoided. 
e The planting space need not exceed 30 cm., when balm-mint growing will be all the 
_ more remunerative. Hoeing after the first and second cuttings seems to foster the 
growth, The better the soil, the more favourable it is for growing balm-mint. 
Geiger likewise describes the cultivation of peppermint (Mentha piperita, L., Labiate). 
Ss Although it is certainly more generally known, we mean to copy here the chief points, 
__ in view of the keen interest shown everywhere for growing medicinal plants. Peppermint 
_ is propagated by dividing the plants. In autumn, after the last cutting, the old pepper- 
% mint fields are ploughed about 20 cm. deep and the torn suckers are planted, 10 cm. 
apart, on a well-prepared field, preferably one that has borne potatoes, turnips or 
2 cabbage. The preparation includes manuring with stable-dung. The field is ploughed 
: in the usual rows, the fresh (white) parts of the root-stocks are put into the furrows 
» _and trodden in with bare feet. The plough then covers them again. Afterwards, 
a light harrow is passed over the field. The planting material, transported in baskets 
_ or carts, must be sprayed in warm weather, so as to prevent its getting dry. During 
_ the night, it is advisable to cover it with soil. The suckers will root still in the same 
& autumn. Next spring, the destruction of the weeds must set in early. Manuring with 
about 1 cwt. of superphosphate of ammonia (9:9) will pay well. -The chief item for 
“success is a well-prepared soil, not too dry and, as far as possible, free from weeds. 
"Thorough weeding, soon after the plants have begun to sprout and after the first and 
second cuttings, is necessary. During the crops, the plants can be multiplied through 
Be outting the tips of the strongest shoots in frames. This promises great success and 
_ the number of plants can be increased twentyfold, without there being any noticeable 
. lessening of the crop. To this effect, the tips of the most vigourous shoots, with the 
_ uppermost pair of leaves, are cut off slantingly just above the second leaf-pair and 
planted in frames with the aid of a dibble. A frame of 1:1.2m. holds about 400 such 
slips. The frames are kept shut for a week and sprayed twice daily. In order to 
_ protect the slips against scorching, the frame-windows’ should be strewn with soil. As 
; soon as the slips have rooted, the frames can be aired little by little. By taking off 
_ the tips, the slips are induced to grow in bredth, so that, four weeks after having 
i been planted, they form a real carpet. A fortnight after, they can be used already 
_ for filling up gaps in the old fields or starting fresh-ones. It is of advantage to cover 
_ fields with good, moist humus after the weeding. The roots which have been 
laid bare are thus covered and the growth even of weakly plants is thereby greatly 
3 enhanced. Peppermint thrives on Ae moory soil with clay subsoil, which provides 
% the necessary moisture. 
% From sage (Salvia officinalis, L., Labiate), slips can be taken of old plants can be 
_ divided, in autumn, and set in ee soil, 40 cm. apart in every direction. In the next 
its Spring, the weeds are removed with the hoe until the plants fully cover the ground. 
