Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1915-11-16
MINT SUCCESSFULLY
GAINS IN VALLEY
W. J. Tulnbridge Is Engaged
In Making Extensive
Experiments

The Willamette valley, having in
many respects climate similar to Eng
land, the home of peppermint, will
eventually become the center of the
peppermint industry, according to w. j.
Turnidge, who has leased the w. S.
Mott farm near Salem.
1t has been proven by actual test that
peppermint can be produced in paying
quantities on suitable land in this coun-
ty and Linn and several farmers near
Knox Butte, Linn county, have been
experimenting with satisfactory results,
The farm of W. S. Mott, on Battle
creek, south of Salem, has been leased
by Mr. Crabtree and will be partially
planted to peppermint. He has lately
come into possession of farm of 66S
acres at the junction of the Santiam
and Willamette rivers, and it is in this
low land that Mr.. Turnidgc will CON
duct his greater experiments. In all,
he expects to plant 800 acres in pepper
mint this coming spring.
The raising of peppermint for the oil
was first attempted in this valley by
o. II. Todd of Eugene, whose brothcI
is known in Michigan as one Of the
biggest dealers in the country. Mich
igan has been the largest grower of pep
permint in this country. In 1913, the
average was 81 pounds of oil to the
acre, and in 1915, the average per acre
was 10 pounds, which sold for $l.55 q
pound. According to those familiar
with the raising of peppermint, from
| 20 to 80 pounds an acre can be raised
in this valley, and of better quality
than that of Michigan. With the elm
ate here in some respects very similar
to that of England, our peppermint will
test from so to 81 per cent menthol.
much better test than the English
mint.
Mint is running plant much ON the
order of strawberry, and the expense
is the first year, estimated at from $25
to $50 an acre. 1t is cultivated like
corn, grows three feet high and is
planted in rows three feet apart. The
planting is done in February or April
cultivated the first year, but narrowed
the second and third.
In July or August the peppermint is
cut and cured like hay and hauled to an
oil distillery. At present there is one
distillery in Linn county and Mr.. Turn
idge expects to erect one on the recent.
! ly leased Mott farm, and at other points
until there are five in the valley.
Soil best adapted for the raising Of
peppermint is that of the river bot
toms. A moist soil is required and the
crop is not damaged even if covered
for a time with water during the win
ter.
Under ordinary soil conditions, it is
advisable to rotate crops and to plow
. the mint under in August and harrow
the roots out during the dry weather.
But free working soil seems to be
best adapted to its culture.
The peppermint hay, after the oil has
been extracted by means of distillation,
is dried and stored for food, possessing
good feed qualities. The hay crop will
average close to one ton an acre.
The pioneers of the mint industry in
Oregon were o. II. Todd, Il. B. Wallace
= and o. B. Marshall, who are still grow.
ing record crops in Linn county neal
: Albany Last year Mr. Marshall report
ed a yield of 81 pounds Of mint oil tC
the acre, and Mr.. Wallace reported ,
yield of 45 pounds. Mr.. Todd has alst
J., tried mint culture at Lebanon and nea
Springfield with good success in be-
Il places. All of these parties have pro
!, fitted by their experience and are teach
ing mint culture to those who purchased
= the roots from them. They have abou
u the only available roots in the valley
this time. Mr.. Turidge has purchase,
large quantities Of roots from thes
Aearly mint growers in Linn county.
n With the soil and climate so wei
4 adapted for the growing of mint, tho,
familiar with its growing feel that it i
destined to become one of the profit
II able crons n fthe vollev