Manchester Democrat., 1910-02-02
THE CULTIVATION OF MINT.
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Useful Herb Crows in England,
Japan and United states.

Useful Herb Crows in England,
Japan and United states.
Two varieties of mint, known re-
spectively as black and white mint, are
grown in England for the production
of the essential oil, but the area under
cultivation is very limited, and 1t Is
believed that 1t may not exceed 1000
acres, whilst some authorities estl-
mate that half that area would repre-
sent the total quantity that Is grown
In this country.
White mint was cultivated for many
years before the black variety, which
produces nearly double the quantity
of oil. was introduced and at the pres
ent time only a small quantity of
white mint is cultivated to supply the
demands of few old firms of drug
gists. Black mint, SO called from its
dark green foliage, was first CONNER
cially used about forty-five years ago,
and 1t has now almost superseded the
other kind, which has leaf more
lancelike and serrated and of lighter
color.
Black mint seldom flowers except In
hot and dry seasons. and it has not
been seen in full flower since 1893,
when the summer was hot and dry.
White mint differs in this respect; 1t
comes earlier and flowers every sum.
mer, and when in full bloom, land
planted with 1t has a somewhat similar
appearance to field of lavender. The
flowers in both cases are of blue col.
or.
Mint is cultivated In Japan and also
in the United States, particularly in
Michigan. Growers in the United
States. although the quality of their
soil is inferior, by sending their pro-
duce to English markets have in some
measure undersold the home produc-
ers.
Mint is a deep rooted plant with un-
derground stems or runners. and 1t can
only be grown profitably on certain
soils. 1t requires good, light, warm
soil, that which suits 1t best being a
deep rich loan ON gravel, but it will
tha.Te well on chalky subsoil. 1t
likes moist spring and dry. hot
summer. 1t is grown from roots, not
from seeds.
As a mint plantation only lasts from
four to five years 1t is necessary to
form three or four beds that will come
on In succession, and this Is usually
done in the following manner: In the
autumn after the crop has been cut,
trenches are dug from eight to ten. feet
apart, fifteen inches deep and eighteen
inches wide. the displaced earth being
spread over the plants between the
trenches.
When the plants spring up some are
transplanted to another bed, the area
under cultivation being extended. and
so on from year to year. so that at the
end of the fourth year, when the first
bed is dying out the others, which have
been made. take its place and continu.
Gus succession is obtained. II the
plants are not required for extending
the Plantations, the land Is plowed
with disk coulters and in the spring II
is narrowed down. The mint planta.
tions in their second year give the best
results. and each year afterwards they
gradually deteriorate. When lne plan
tations are broken up at the end OF
four or five years the same land
should not be used again for mint
growing for many years.
The mint is cut about the begin,
ming of September. when the plants
flower or when red rust called
snuff" appears on the leaf. The cut
ting is done by hand with a hook. The
crop Is left on the ground afterscuttine
to dry. and then packed in Russia
mats and carried to the distillery. |,