350 



Water Supply for Villages. [august, 



It is then stored in glass bottles called " Winchester quarts " 

 (which contain about 5 lb. each), when it is ready for sale to 

 the wholesale druggists. 



Cost of Production. — The cost of growing mint is very con- 

 siderable, and it is said that if a capital of £10 per acre is 

 considered a fair allowance for ordinary farming operations, 

 at least £20 per acre would be required for mint growing. 

 The plants can generally be obtained, though in limited 

 quantities, at a cost of from 7s. to 10s. per bushel, according 

 to the season and supply, but in seasons when plants are 

 scarce mint growers require them all for themselves and it is 

 difficult for others to get them at any price. To plant an acre 

 about 10-12 bushels are required, and the cost of planting works 

 out at about 30s. and of cutting at from 20s. to 30s. per acre. 

 Mats cost about gd. each. The cost of distilling may be put 

 down at £1 for 20 mats. The Winchester quarts cost about 

 4d. each. Although there are public distilleries in Mitcham, 

 most of the leading growers have their own distilleries. A 

 building with two copper stills and other apparatus will cost 

 from £1,200 to £1,500. 



An acre of land may be expected to produce 20 to 60 mats, 

 which will yield from 8 to 25 lb. of oil, the quantity of it 

 depending largely on the season. 



If there is a plentiful supply of oil it will only sell for about 

 1 8s. a lb., but on an average the price would be nearer 255. 

 In 1907, a wet and unfavourable year for growing mint, as 

 much as 30s. per lb. was obtained. 



W'ATER SUPPLY FOR VILLAGES. 

 William Phelps, C.E. 



Member of the Association of Water Engineers. 



In considering a scheme for a village water supply, the popu- 

 lation of the village is usually taken as a basis, but it must 

 be remembered that the number of dairy cows habitually kept 

 in a parish is an equally, if not more, important factor 

 in determining the quantity of water required, as well 

 as in determining the finance of the scheme. This is 

 especially the case in that large and increasing area,, comprising 



