The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-11-02
MISS CLARK'S MINT
FARM A NOTED one
Experimental on a Small Scale at
First, Then Went Into It
on a Large Scale.

Galien, Mich, Nov. miss Mary
Clark of this place runs mint farm,
and runs it successfully. i
The cultivation of mint for distill.
ing by Miss Clark came about some
what in the nature of an accident. Two
years ago she rented a quarter acre Of
her forty-acre tract to "a man who
wished to raise mint, a profitable crop
Is in this section, but one requiring much
study and, care. He was. not successful,
and Miss Clark set about to experiment
on her'5own account. "
. She had been practical farmer IN
the, raising of ordinary crops on her
place, doing all the work herself except
fencing and ditching, and had made
thoro study of scientific soil chemistry.
When her tenant failed she began to
study up on mint. Her researches
taught her that mint should be planted
in the fall. This was contrary to all
| precedent in mint culture, and the men
| farmers laughed in their sleeves. But
when spring came, the Wisdom OF hel
| Judgment was apparent.
The first venture was such success
that she put more of the land to mint
By that time the labor had become toe
much for Miss Clark and her, mother,
who had assisted her, so she advertised
Not the ordinary farm hand for Miss
Clark, mind you, but women, strong
hardy women, who had become accus
toned to fieldwork by picking berries
| in the hot sun. A dollar day and
good dinner was the wage ,ottered, ane
It was no sinecure, for Miss Clark
was there in the field cultivatlng the
delicate plants with her own hands, OF
her hands and knees a good part OF the
time. planting the savory greens ant
carefully watching each day s growth.
The old growers had always coveres
the "runners," which form netWorl
under the plants, with their feet. NO
so with Miss Clark. for she used noe zoe
and again the old timers shook thel
heads but the plants came up WITH n
.luxuriant growth that r1valed all o1o
time methods.
And thru the season Miss Clark ant
: her faithful squad of women worker
kept up their work in the field, e sl
followed close by the Industrious leader
No "rag" weeds and smart weed
spoiled the flavor of the mint in tn
fields under her direction, for they wer
: as free from weeds as hyacinth be-
in greenhouse.
. portant part Of the industry, for the.
I must be cut ON warm day, as tn
flavor leaves the plant for the root
on cold days as surely as mercur
seeks the bottom Of the thermomete
, when Jack Frost approaches. just a
: the proper moment Miss Clark and he
{ workers gathered their crop and hui
, ried it to the distillery, where it cam
, out in the spicy, pungent oil Of pei
= permint known to commerce. Man
: many basket-covered jugs were require
!. to hold the season 8 product from Mis-
/ Clark IS fields, and the price she oil
: tanned was the highest, for In qualit
] it rated as the finest.
; Miss Clark is also known as one {
the most successful farmers in a gel
0 eral line in this section. She cuts an
s rakes twenty tons of hay season
0 milks ten cows night, and morning. an
/, takes half ton Of milk eight mile
Q to the creamery once week, for whic
]. she receives an average of $50 mont
J, A couple Of hundred hens net her So