The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-12-12
AND SPEARMINT
FOR PROFIT.

According to the Agricultural de-
partment. the peppermint and spear
mint industry would be likely to sif-
fer from overproduction II a much
larger acreage Of these plants was
rapidly developed. The price fiuctu-
ates widely and the industry probably
suffers from coal tar substitutes,
which are probably used to II far
greater extent than the public real
Ices. The use of coal tar limitations
Of peppermint and spearmint in food
products Of all kinds and in medicine
taken internally should be prevented
by Law. The natural vegetable prod
uct Is SO cheap that there Is really
no excuse for the use Of a very harm
full mineral substitute and rome but
ignorant or basely mean people will
use such injurious articles in the
manufacture Of confectionery. food or
medicine that Is taken into the
stomach.
In the United States practically all
the peppermint and spearmint oil is
produced in New York. Indiana and
Michigan, where about $4,000 acres
are devoted to the cultivation Of the
two plants from which about 100000
pounds Of the oil is extracted. This
II something less than half OF the
entire production Of the world.
Muck lands or low meadows are
suitable for growing peppermint and
spearmint and the cost of estab-
fishing and caring for an acre OF min,
the FIRST season Is In the n~eighborhood
OF $50. while the cost OF caring for
II In subsequent years will be about
half Of this igure. Fertilization
taxes, interest on investment. tools
and superintendent are not included
IN this estimate,
In New York the bulk Of the min,
crop is raised in Wayne county OF
| uplands and the cost OF preparing
the land Is somewhat less than or
muck land. but the tlllage costs art
higher because Of the greater guam.
tity Of hand labor required.
The yield Of oil varies from a very
small production to 100 pounds al
acre. In the neighborhood of 32t
pounds of peppermint and $40 pounds
Of spearmint are required to produce
a pound OF oil. For peppermint oil
in tins the average traC price for the
last forty years has been nbout $2.5C
a pound. although sometimes It has
fallen as low as rs cents. For the
past Ave years spearmint oil has av-
eraged 1855 a pound, although for.
merry II brought less than peppermint
These prices are higher than the pro.
ducers would receive. an they repre-.
sent the New York wholesale prices.
The large Western growers have
installed their " distilling plants
many Of which are elaborate and ex-
pensive. The customary charge fol
distilling the oil is % cents a pound.
There arc many acres Of land In
York. New Jersey and IN other sec.
tions where mint and spearmint vii
thrive. deep soils. rich In humus and
retentive of moisture, but fairly oper
in texture and we'll drained. Both
may be grown In we'll prepared up.
land soils. Uplands should be sum-
mer fallowed for a year or two be.
fore setting out mint. The crop mus,
have clean culture at all stages and
rs cut al the time of full bloom. whic!
with new paintings is early In Sep
tember. It Is allowed to dry partially
In the field before being hauled to the
still. but exposure to frost must be
avoided. as frozen mint yields less
than one-half the quantity Of oil which
otherwise would be secured.
/ For fertilizers nitrate of soda al
tho rate OF so to 100 pounds to the
acre liz used. also potash. which Is
particularly useful against n form OF
chlorosis. a disease due apparently Il
too much water In the soil. Few dis
cases and pests trouble peppermint
and spearmint, 80 far. has been free
from them all. Adequate distilline
facilities are essential to success.