South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-07-29

seem especially
favorable TO the
81. b. tINCENT production Of
pepper-mlnt and sDearmint and for
this reason approximately one-half
az tine entire worlds crop is grown
in This section.
Spearmint and peppermint are
two distinctly different varieties Of
mint. or the two. peppermint Is
the greater. as il may be used FOR
many commercial purpose.
Spearmint Is used practically only
for the favoring or chewing gum
and candies. while peppermint is
employed not only In favoring
chewing gum and candy but also in
medicine. for locating leaks in
steam and gas pipes. for making
dyes and other uses.
Muck Il Best Soil.
Mint can be grown on uplands
coils but the muck soils which pre-
dominate in the Kankakee valley is
most sutable 90 it's culture and pro-
pagation There are FIVE varieties
The English. or black mint" is the
most prolific producer of mint leaves
and most extensively grown in ST.
Joe county. II is the leaves that
produce the oil. hence large Leaf
crop means a large oil yield.
Started by Roots.
The crop is started by planting
mint roots. one acre from an estab-
lshed mint bed furnishing enough
10 plant 10 or 20 acres
The roots are planted by hand. A
man carries sack of roots over his
shoulder. from which he draws the
roots az he walks along the row and
throws them into the bottom OF the
furrOw so as 20 form a continuous
line OF roots. As he walks along
dropping the roots. he also covers
them by scraping the soil into the
furrow with his foot. A rapid work
man can plant one acre a day in
this way
The price or roots varies consider
ably, depending upon the quality of
the roots and the price Of oil. At the
present time enough good roots
would cost from $500 to $4,000.
The customary practice when buy
ing roots locally, is for the buyer TO
purchase a half arce or an acre or
more OF roots in an established field
and dig them himself and plant as
large an area as possible from the
roots secur,H When sold IN this
way. an acre Of roots will bring from
$4,000 10 $4,000.
The field is then cultivated thor
oughIy and must continue 10 be Gull
tivated until the runners MI the
rows which makes cultivation i'm
practicable
I'm addition 10 thorough cultiva-
ton with horse tools. hand wedding
is also necessary TO get rid OF all the
weeds. especially Just before the
mint is harvested.
Weeds. besides interfering with the
best growth OF the mint, result in
an inferior oil when distilled with
the mint.
when to Harvest.
There is some difference OF opin-
ion among growers as 10 the exact
stage OF development 10 harvest
mint in order 10 secure the highest
WELD OF oil The mint Is harvested
about the time 10 comes in 10 bloom
when the minute globules OF oil can
he seen on the leaves and the leaves
have an especially strong odor OF
mint when crushed I'm the hand. II
should be cut before many OF the
lower leaves are dropped Harvesting
old mint usually begins about the
middle or latter part OF July, while
the Young mint is usually not ready
for harvest until the middle Of Au-
sut or first OF September
Hot Weather for Mint.
The Weld Of oil is always greater
in hot dry weather. and a heavy
rain about harvesting time Will
greatly reduce the yield.
Harvesting and curing the mint are
quite similar 20 hay making and the
same weather conditions are pre-
fe-red that Is. clear warm weather
THE mint is cut with a moving ma
chine. and ia allowed 20 lie in the
svath 70 cure for about a day. Occa-
ssonallv when cultivation has ridged
mn the rows so that the mint can
NOT be cut 20 advantage with a
moving machine. it is necessary to
NOV the Young mint with a scythe
This IS never necessary with old
mint. because after the first season
The mint will not have spread r
that II can not be cultivated IN rows
The length OF time the mint Is
allowed 20 cure in the swath de-
nAnds upon the weather az harvest
ing time. the object being 20 eva or
ate the excess moisture and wilt the
caves slightly. but not so that The
leaves viii fall on In hot. dry
weather. one day = usually sufficient
IN cure the mint hay. after which II
- ked into windows with side
delivery rake and then punched
v-ith a fork 70 facilitate gathering
II IS then loaded on hay racks and
taken 20 the still.
on an established plantation II
The FIRST cutting r. made early IN the
season. the mint viii make a new
erowth. which may be harvested N
he early fan. This second crop
1qralIv Yields about half as much
ou az the first cutting. but weakens
ne roots somewhat 20 they do not
make a thrifty growth the following
s,~inr. Unless the price Of oil i'
Drusuallv high few mint farmer'
t.ke more than one cutting Per
wear from their fields.
DistiIling Mint.
mint stIl consits essentially OF
ewo or more large watts or tubs
TITO which the mint hay is put 20 be
e+esued. a boiler 20 generate the
steam condenser or worm "a
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