The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1875-08-30
Mint Culture.

DR.. E. Ware Sylvester, of Lyons, n.
Y, has written several papers on pep
ermint culture, and probably knows as
much thereabout as any man living.
From his latest essay, read before the
Farmers Club of the American Institute,
we take the following:
.Since 1871 the price Of peppe mint
oil has huctuated from p to IS per
pound in our market at Lyons. In 1874
planted five acres, which yielded thirty
pounds per acre, and sold for f5, II per
pound, amounting to $766.5O or over
$3.50 per acre. The latest quotation in
village papers ~ per pound, Since
the publication Of my paper on the cult
walton of mint have received from nu-
merous persons these questions: Where
can procure seed? Do you plant the
root, the stem, or the seed? 1t is these
questions which now propose to an
swer. have no doubt that peppermint
NAV be grown either from the root. stem,
or seed, but the most desirable portion
to plant is the rooted runner from last
years growth. Perhaps you will be en-
abled to understand me better II l de.
tail the production Of this'rooted runner.
for instance. in the spring plaLt An
acre of mint roots. These grow. are
kept free from weeds, and in Jnly or
Angus. the tops have grown from one to
two feet high, and when in blossom the
tops have been moved of and converted
Into peppermint oil by distillation.
About this time small shoots Of runners
are seen growing from the neck or collar
OF the mint and remaining on the sur
face OF the ground. These runners take
root and each for himself becomes a liv-
ling plant, though still clinging to its
i mothers breast II is these plants.
full of health and vigoT, which you mus,
plant if you would grow mint success
fully,
III snow falls on the ground before
it is much frozen. and remains on unit
spring, covering the runners with Whit
soft blanket, they will come out Of thu
winter as bright and smiling as totter
ing infaut; but If, as too often happens
we have severe weather without SHOWS
and the ground is frozen q foot Or NOR,
, in depth, fierce winds sweep across you
mint fields, and in the spring they lool
. brown or black, their young rootlets ar
dead. and they are unfit tor planting
/ How shall We obviate the effects Of tn
/ winter and have fresh healthy runners
!, am OF the opinion that light GOVERN.
, OF straw is the best method. and tina
, wheat or rye straw will answer as vel
: a. buckwheat. What is wanted is som
, light application on the surface Of tn
{ ground to hold the light SHOWS, if Their
: are any, and practically protect th
: young rootleis from the severe cold
1 But the novice asks, Why <his anxiet
. about roots? Alter You have planted
Q field can you mot NOW the mint year al
2 ter year as we do meadows? answer
5 no: the mint is usually cut for two year
t and then replanted-in very rare ia
9 stances three crops are gathered. HOY
|many roots do you plant to the acre
!. This is q fair question, and l shout
j much prefer 70 answer it than count tn
t runners we plant on anacre. When tn
Z runrers are numerous and well rooted
and all alive, from ten to twenty squar
!. rods viii afford sufficient for one acre
i hence you perceive that one acre OF run
e ners wiz plant from eight 10 sixtee
. acres Of new mint
I'll There IS money to be made b grow