Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1903-08-12
MINT CROP OF MICHIGAN.
campanla Farm Of Congressman TOD


Cnmpania Farm of Congressman Todd
the Largest Field in the World.
There is a plot of ground in southern
Michigan which probably not many
generations ago formed part of the
lake of that name. In course of time
it became a fresh-water swamp. as
yalueless a piece of property as might
be found. To-day it is a prosperous.
fertile farm. upon which one of the
most interesting industries of the
world is conducted on a large scale.
Ditch digging reclaimed this swamp.
says the New York Times, the bitches
serving first as drains. later for irri-
eating purposes.
Campania fam, as it has been nam
ed by its owner. Congressman Todd.
Is about two miles wide and is as
fiat as a duck pond. There are no
fences around it. but the bitches are
laid with mathematical precision. At
the exact center of the farm are the
buildings. from which the whole is
operated and in which live as many
people as are found in many villages.
AS the visitor draws near the farm
he sees stretching before him what
appears to be a lake of green, crinkly
leaves. which at nightfall is covered
with q thick yapor. He becomes con-
scious of a smarting in the eyes and
a tingling sensation in the nose. Mem
cries of the big peppermint drops and
sticks of striped candy of childhood
pass through his mind.
He is. in fact. entering the largest
mint field in the world. where is
raised most of the peppermint that is
used in the manufacture of oil for
fiavoring CONNECTIONS in the United
States.
Campania farm Is a busy place. The
workmen all live on the grounds. 1t
is conducted ON model plans. A large
boarding house accommodates 100
n en-, and Congressman Todd has a
summer house neal by. There are ice
houses, farm buildings, warehouses
and a library. and a clubroom for the
workmen. There is a barn which is
said to be the largest In the world.
This barn solved one of the earliest
problems. and the most embarrassing
which confronted Mr.. Todd when he
set out TO conquer the swamp and re-
claim it from the wastes and make it
useful. This was the question as to
what was to be done with the hun
dreds and later thousands of tons of
mint hay after the oil had been ex-
tracted from it. He determined upon
an experiment. He purchased 1000
acres of farm land in the northern
part of Michigan aud put out to a
pasture a herd of 500 shortlorn cat
tie. In the fall the nerd was brought
south and housed for the winter in the
big barn.
The experiment proved successful,
as the peppermint plants are excel
lent fodder when dried. Besides there
was the advantage of giving employ
ment to the workmen in the winter
months.
The barn is built on unique plans.
1t is in the shape of a star, there be-
ing half a dozen arms radiating from
a six-sided rotunda in the center.
Mint grows from roots similar to
hops 0nd spreads by runners. The
entire ground is soon covered after
the roots are planted. and as soil
which is suitable for mint is also good
for weeds a large crop OF these must
b. tirelessly extracted. After the sea-
ssn is well advanced and cultivation
Is no longer practicable the wedding
is done by hand and the amount of
labor required is very large.
At harvest time the mint is combed
and carded in one direction by
mean of a powerful two-horse rake.
1t is full of snags and crlnkles. like
a head of tousled hair. Mowers are
then u in the opposite direction and
the plants cut.
The best yield. in quality. ONE
from the first years crop, as the oil
is made from the leaves and the ten
der ends of the stems. but the second
and third years crops are said to be
the most profitable, as they do not
need ~replanting. nor SO much wedding.
Each fall the ground is plowed six
inches deep and the crop comes with
out resetting.