Mint. Twenty-five species. Hardy herbaceous perennials. Division. Common soil.

Spear or Green Mint. M. viridis. Is employed in sauces and salads, as well as dried for soups in winter. There are two varieties, the broad and narrow leaved, equally good.

Penny Royal. M. Pulegium. Is cultivated for its use in culinary and pharmaceutical preparations. There are two varieties, the trailing, which is usually cultivated, and the upright.

Peppermint, M. piperita. For distilling, and the production of its peculiar oil and water.

Soil And Situation

These plants are best grown on a tenacious soil; even a clay is more suitable to them, than a light silicious one. It should be moderately fertile, entirely free from stagnant moisture, and consequently on a dry subsoil or well drained. A wet soil makes them luxuriant in summer, but ensures decay in winter. A border or situation that is sheltered from the meridian sun, is always to be allotted them, as in such they are most vigorous and constant in production. A compartment entirely secluded from the influence of the sun is, however, equally unfavourable with one that is too much exposed.

Time And Mode Of Propagation

They are propagated by parting the roots in February or March, September or October, and by slips or offsets at the same seasons. The mints likewise may be increased by cuttings of the annual shoots in May or June, as well as by cuttings of the roots in spring or autumn. For production of green tops throughout the winter and early spring, the spearmint is often planted in a hotbed, and more rarely pennyroyal, every three weeks during October and three following months.

Planting in the open ground at whatever seasons, or by whatever mode, should if possible be performed in showery weather, or water must be given plentifully, especially to cuttings. If propagated by divisions of the root, they must be inserted in drills two inches deep; if by slips or cuttings, they must be five or six inches in length, and their lower half being divested of leaves, planted to that depth in every instance, being set in rows ten inches apart each way.

The only after cultivation required is the constant destruction of weeds, which are peculiarly injurious.

After July, the produce of green tops is of little value; they should therefore be allowed then to advance to flower, which they will produce towards the beginning of September, when they are in the fit state for gathering, either for drying or distilling. In either case the stalks should be cut just previously to the flower opening. At the close of September or beginning of October, the stems must be cut down as close as possible, the weeds cleared entirely away, and a little fine fresh mould spread over them. The beds should never be allowed to continue longer than four years; by constant gathering, the plants not only become weakened, but the roots becoming matted and greatly increased, produce only numerous diminutive shoots or entirely decay.

Forcing

For forcing, a moderate hot-bed is necessary, earthed over about three inches thick; in this the roots may be inserted about four inches apart, and one [deep. They are sometimes only protected with mats, but frames are preferable. If it is inconvenient to construct a bed purposely, they may be planted in pots and plunged in any bed already in operation, or be set on the side of the stove. The temperature should never vary beyond the extremes of 70° and 80°.