The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1883-02-24
Growth and Manufacture of Pep
a permint.

dustry confined to limited part OF the
country, and therefore but little is known
of its variety and manufacture by most
persons.
Neao Remedies recently gave lengthy
account of the cultivation and manufacture
of peppermint, from which the following
notes are made:
The account is descriptive of visit to
Wayne county, in New York State. 1t is
now upward of fifty years, says the writer,
since peppermint was first cultivated in
that locality for its OIL the first attempt in
America being made in Massachusetts,.
For many years it has also been grown in
few counties in Ohio, and in some parts
of Upper Canada (Ontario). It's growth
, in Michigan was first undertaken in 1855,
and has since steadily increased. Western
New York, however, produces the largest
quantity of oil, and it is said that the pro-
ducts of that region are characterized by a
finer aroma than that produced in most
other localities in America. Oflate, grow
ers and refners have devoted special atten-
ton to the selection of the best varieties of
the plant, and to the qualities of the pro-
duct. In Wayne county alone more than
1900 acres of mint are cultivated annually;
with an average yield of about 20 pounds
of oil to the acre, or total yearly produc-
ton of over 10000 pounds.
1t is estimated that the annual produc-
ton of oil of peppermint throughout the
world is about 1000 pounds, which would
show that by far the largest portion-cer
tainly two-thirds- comes from the Wayne
county, New York, region. The pepper
mint harvest commences in August, or as
soon as the plant is in flower (by which
time it will have attained height of about
2 feet or upward, and continues into Sep
tember, warm or hot weather being essen
tial at harvest time, that the plant may
produce oil abundantly. The first crop is
the best, the second years of less value,
and the third year the ground may be again
plowed, and the crop allowed to spring up
from the broken roots. The yield in the
third year, when the ground is treated in
this manner, is somewhat less than that of
the first year, but the crop is more free
from weeds than during the subsequent
years, and the oil is correspondingly purer.
The weed which causes most trouble is the
broom-weed, mares tail, or fire weed, a
composite yielding volatile oil which is
! bitter and pungent, and by its presence i'm
g pairs the naturally fresh, penetrating, and
delicious taste of the pure oil of pepper
, mint.
The mint is cut with a sickle, scythe, or
moving machine, according to the fancy
of the cultivator. After cutting it is al
lowed to wither in the sun for FIVE or six
= hours, and is then raked into ''cocks,"
where it remains short time before being
!. distilled. This process is found to give
- larger yield of OIL and to improve the odor
, of the product 1t is not every cultivator
that is provided with still, but stills are
found distributed about the peppermint
region at convenient distances. Some are
of the most primitive character, while others
are constructed more elaborately. The ap-
paratus and method differ from that en-
ployed in Europe, where the fire is applied
to the still. In America the still consists
of a wooden tub or vat of heavy slaves
hooped with iron. The withered mint is
packed into the vat by treading with the
feet until the vat is full when cover, made
steam tight with rubber packing, is fasten-
ed down with screw clamps. A steam pipe
connects the lower part of the vat with
steam boiler, and another pipe from the
center of the cover connects the vat with
the condensing worm. The latter varies
in size according to the capacity of the still,
but becomes progressively smaller toward
the outlet. The worm is so placed as to
have constant stream of cold running
water surrounding it. The steam from the
boiler being admitted to the vat at pres
sure of 80 to 40 pounds, the oil of the
mint is volatilized and mixed with the
steam condensed in the worm. The mixed
oil and water are collected in the receiver,
, where the difference in their specific gray
ity causes them to separate. No attempt
is made to redistill the water which sepa-
rates. and considerable loss of oil which is
held in solution doubtless results from this
lack of economy. ai U..sa
The oil is packed in tin cans, or glass
demijohns, holding about 20 pounds each.
The glass demJohns are much the best
e when the oil is to be kept for any length
of time, as its good qualities are more fully
retained, and it is less liable to discolor-
n alton. From the oil thus produced the re-
fners and exporters make their selections
: and upon their judgment in selecting, skill
/. in refining, and their honesty, as well as
. the care used in excluding foreign plants
. from the crop, depend the quality of the
oil found in the market. 1t is very pro-
, bable that most of the adulteration which
this oil undergoes takes place after it has
left the hands Of the original re6ners and
: dealers At the present time Wayne coun-
: ty, New York, grows, re6nes and exports
, the greater quantity of all the oil of pep
> permit grown in the United States and
: Canada. .iafa
: Oil of peppermint is sometimes adulter-
= ated with tnrnentine. and also with oil of