The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1896-07-20
MINT RAISING IN MICHIGAN.
One-Half the Worlds Product Is
Grown There.

One-Haif the Worlds Product Is
Grown There.
The Chicago girl who nibbles dainti-
ly at her peppermint creams and the
visiting statesman who gazes fondly
at the sprig of green in his favorite
| beverage probably do not stop to con-
slider that they are contributing to the
support of one of the most important
industries of the country. 1t may not
be known to many that more than one
half of all the oil of peppermint, spear
mint, tansy, NORWOOD, etc, of the en-
tire world is produced and distilled
within few score miles of Chicago,
in southwestern Michigan.
The headquarters Of the business are
in st. Joseph, Van Buren, and Allegan
counties. An idea of the magnitude
of the industry may be gained when
it is known that over 10000 tons of
dried peppermint plants are carefully
cultivated annually in this region.
From these the volatile or essential
oil is distilled. Each year about $4,000
acres are utilized for producing the
plants for peppermint alone, besides the
other oils mentioned. 1t is beautiful
and interesting sight in July and Au-
gust to drive among the large fields Of
aromatic plants covered with fragrant
blossoms, the perfume of which fills
the air.
In early spring the roots beneath the
surface of the ground and creeping
tendrils, or runners above the
ground, which have multiplied from
- IcozN o1,a
planted in burrows from two to three
feet apart. The roots are carried in
large sacks on the shoulders Of the
workmen, who string them along the
center of the furrow, covering them
with their feet at the same time. A
good workman will plant from half an
acre to an acre and half, according
to the condition Of the soil, the distance
between rows, and his ability, In
day.
! About two weeks after planting
shoots begip to appear above the
ground A little later the work OF
cultivation begins and is continued
until the plants have grown so that
the rows meet each other and cover
the ground. The plants when in
bloom are moved down and allowed
| tc dry in the sun until nearly as dry
! as hay. They are then raked in piles
and drawn to the distillery, which
| consists in its ordinary form Of two
| large wooden watts connected with q,
steam boiler. The steam In passing
through the plants causes the little
cells in the leaves and blossoms con-
! tanning the oil to burst and the fine
particles of oil thus set free are car
ried off with the current OF steam.
| After passing through worm i'm
mersed in cold water, the condensed
products flow into an open vessel, the
oil rising at the surface, from which
it is dipped into cans.
There are several hundred mint
distilleries in this region, where the
crude or natural" Oil of peppermint
is produced by this simple process,
the distilleries costing but a few hum
dred dollars each. In this form the
oil is usually sent to market. 1t re-
quires from 200 to $50 pounds Of dried
peppermint plants to produce one
pound of oil, so that when the favor
| ing power of a single leaf or blossom
is remembered it will be understood
why the pure essential oil is SO
powerful The yield per acre varies
widely, owing to the soil, season and
| cultivation ranging all the way from
twenty to sixty pounds, and in some
instances slightly exceeding the latter
! figure. The price has also varied
widely, ranging during the last few
years from SIPS to IS per pound in the
producing districts for the crude oil,
the average having been about So.
The peppermint industry was first
| started in England about $50 years
| ago at Mitcham, but as late as 1906 no
! stills were built for distilling the oil,
and the herb was marketed in London
| About 100 acres only were cultivated
up to that time, but in 1850 about 500
acres were under cultivation and a
number of stills had been erected.
Early in the present century the in
| dustry was started in Wayne county,
| New York, and in ST. Joseph county.
| Michigan. and in 1864 the American
| industry had grown to such proper
lions that over four-fifths of the en-
| tire production of the world was dis
titled here, while in England 1t had
| decrease to PIG acres. Now over nine
tenths of the worlds production is dis
| titled in America, about two-thirds of
which is grown and distilled in this
region.