The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1858-12-09
Peppermint PIaDtati0ns in Michi-
gan.


Peppermint PIaDtasions in Nichi-
gan.
AT the last rneedng of the American Phar-
macentical Association in Washington, Mr.
Frederick Stearns read a paper on the "Pep-
pelmint Plantations Of Michigan" which
contains many interesting statements.
For the last ten years. the couaty Of St.
Joseph, Michigan, has produced the largest
proportion Of The oil Of peppermint produced
In the world. Its culture was introduced
there in 1886 by Calvin Sawyer. 1t had
however, heen previously cultivated in New
York and Ohio.
During the first year of its production in
st. Joseph county, it was purchased by the
merchants, who exchanged il in New York
for goods; and as the product increased,
these merchants acted as agents for eastern
dealers, who shipped it to Europe, mostly to
thc Liverpool market.
Id 1914, tie house Of Patterson, Stone &,
Co, Of New York, sent an agent to Liver
pool, who ascertained that the amount de-
nanded there annually was about 1900
pounds. Another agent was despatched to
tie west, who entered into contracts with All
the producers Of Western New York AMI
Ohio, whereby they bound themselves, under
heavy penalties, not to raise an7 peppermint.
nor seIi any roots for five yeas, and paid
thcn : benaaof $3.50 rcr acre q their rIan-
- Ega5 tor 20 DONG. lie then Contracted
with tito producers Of St. Joseph county f.
nav them 90. 30 for their oil, delivered at
the agencies Of The firm, and bound them IN
der heavy forfeitures not to extend their plan
tatieIs. III sell roots or oil to any one else
By tiis monopoly the firm acquired large
fortune ia three years, as did some Of the pro-
duccfs. Ceasing to enforce the conditions
Of tlc bargain, the production Of mint again
becgme general; ii has, nevertheless, been
ma..Iy limited TO the town Of Florence, St.
j. eph county.
Ihe peppermint plant requires deep rich,
wa1m =a!l Tie ground is prepared by deep
plaWng, from the middle to the 2Oih Of Nav,
~ IS soon as an acre can be plowed to com
menec with, III order 10 get the roots Of the
mia. planted before they begin to sprout-
Al ground il narrowed as for potatoes, with
the burrows fifteen, eighteen, or twenty four
ireles apart. The roots are prepared by
plaHIar TIP i'm old field of mint ground,
from which they are raked with rakes, po-
tat#g looks, etc, loaded on a wagon like Il
ioal III straw, and drawn to the new mint
ground. The best roots are taken from fields
planted the preceding years, and it requires
one acra If such to furnish roots enough TO
plant teD acres anew. The planter goes to
TIL stack u mint roots in the corner of the
fed II wherever they may have been depos-
ito3, bills q bog halt full Of them, (Which are
lilA.t) swings il over his neck aud under his
leit arm Taking bunch Of roots from the
baE lie holds it in his left hand, and passes
along tile furrow Tearing off root or n
small Parcel Of roots, as is most convenient
fIem tlc bunch in his left hand, he drops it
TIT II ~,
viii the igbt foot he steps on it with his
leftas Aa proceeds. It's an object to plant
thtm 10 rs 10 form continuous connection
u chain. This is called setting m Mt" A
man viii set from half to three-quarters of
an aero in day.
A soon a. the mint is seen above ground,
usually il three four weeks. the horse aud
cuIuEaler (the common corn guilty afor, are
ina dunad and followed by the hoe. This
process Il repeated twice or three tines
When tha mint has grown aud spread to the
fize IF beach leaves. on half grown potatoes,
the Ice !. again piled for tie last time in tho
curly part * August, and this completes the
crltnre Il The crop.
Tine cutting and distillng commences
aEput Tie 15th Of August. except III very drY
seasons, Wien i stands TWO or three weeks
lonEar and continue until the first Of Oeto-
~, aRfthg Nhieh period the plant IS M fuli
ctti teaee, aad the lower leaves begin To
grow se.a. 1t is raked together in small
cock, whore it is suffered to will for ten or
twelve hours II convenient.
Alto next year There is nothing to do to
thc mint leG but 10 cutand dstil it, product
Dining tAis (she second year, few weeds
Make tiair appearance, but not to the injury
III tae crop. though the most careful Oh The
miat srowors go through their fields and des
troy hem rs much as possible. The second
ctoF il aot so productive Us the first.
ILL., ll.ld Year there is nothing to do bat
u eut aai distil tho mint The stem is
crarser than before. and the leaves still less
abundant. The weeds this year aboundS,
AMI Il not removed and destroyed, hail or
mon 81 the product Of the field is weeds
IHa fourth year the field IS plowed mp
early n tho spring, and this renewing Is
sometimes done every third year.
Iaa nth year, without any further atten-
ton, produces crop equal to the second;
after which the field is pas,ured and reclaim
81 tar other crops. +
ihe tirSt year produces the best quality
Of oil. tho highest yield per acre, and the
greatest ield to the quantity of herbs