The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1908-09-28

THE SOAP TREE
(Florida Times-Union.)
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(Florida Times-Union.)
A Times-Union representative Wis
tied the laboratory OF Mr.. E. Moulie
at the Florida ostrich farm yesterday
afternoon. and was astonished when
shown q batch Of three thousand let
tiers of inquiry from persons in all
parts Of the world, relative to the soap
berry tree, one OF Mr.. Moulie's most
recent discoveries.
While majority Of the inquiries
come from points in this country vet
there are letters from England, Ire
land. Australia, Honolulu, British
Columbia, Honduras, Bahamas, Mex
leo, Porto Rico. Cuba. Brazil France,
Egypt, New Zealand and other foreign
lands. The inquiries are the direct
result OF an article written for the
Times-Union by Mr.. Moulie in April
of this year regarding the wonderful
tree and which was copied by the pa
pers throughout the world.
AT the beginning of the year 1905,
a report from Hon. Kidder, then I'm
tied States consul at Algiers, was pub
lished In the American Soap Journal, )"
said Mr.. Moulie:, yesterday, in explain
ing the pecIliarities of the tree.
THAT report related the existence of
an industry OF great Importance in
that country, that industry being the
growing of the SOAP tree and of the
commercial and industrial resources
derived from its fruit, the soap berry
In describing that tree, Mr.. Kidder
stated that the Algerian soap tree or.
iginated from China, and has been
propagated by seeds imported from
that country. Following Mr.. Kidder's
report a tree similar to the Algerian
specie was In bearing for more than
twelve years in Florida, in possession
Of Mr.. j. H. Livingston, at Ocala. Fla
The original Introduction Of that tree
was traced to Rev. Benjamin Helm,
a missionary, who had brought the
seed from China.
I'm the hull exists the saponaceous
matter in the proportion of 80 to 40
per cent of the bulk of the hull. This
saponaceous principle is set free by
the shredding of the hull and using it
with water just as II it were a piece
Of soap.
Crumbling hull in his hands and
dipping them in water, Mr.. Moulie
then demonstrated the qualities Of
ny ooponoSSouo MdICel. UedutlIut
lather resulted and the cleansing
qualities were proven remarkable.
NO human skill can produce. nor
approach the marvellous product of
nature" continue Mr.. Moulie. "That
hull can also be made into a powder
and that powder into a cake so as
to make the use OF 1t easier. 1t also
can be made into liquid for hair
wash, dentrlf1ce and various other
preparations and these various arti-
Giles can be made by such simple proc
esses that in every household, that
commodity will become a source Of
economy, Of recreation and pleasure.
Il contemplate, too, in the near fu-
ture, to demonstrate freely these proc
esses, and thus render an invaluable
service to the growers of the soap
tree. sN
The seed has a kernel which con-
tains fixed oil in every respect pre-
ferable to the best imported olive oil,
either for eatable or culinary purpos-
es, and also for all kinds of Industrial
products in which the olive oil is
used. The yield in oil of that kerr
mel Is twice the yield of the olive fruit,
and when the production reaches an
important stage, necessitating the use
Of proper machinery that oil will be
produced as cheaply, if not cheaper,
than the cotton seed oil. For solid
shortening the delicious flavor of that
oil will surpass anything ever pro-
duced in that line.
CAS- meal for poultry and other
animals feed, the product from the
press after the oil is pressed out, there
is nothing superior to it. The leaves
of the soan-nut tree supply a fodder
Of unequaled value.
Reliable authorities assert that
the soap berry is used internally in
cases of salvation, epilepsy and as an
expectorant. That the seeds, pound
ed with water, are said to often put an
end to paroxysm OF epilepsy when a
small quantity Is introduced into the
patients mouth"
Mr.. Moulie Is receiving absolutely
no remuneration for his discovery. He
has given away thousands of seeds to
persons throughout the world as a
matter of introducing and developing
the industry.
He has sold to Mr.. Charles D. Fras-
err, manager of the Florida ostrich
farm, his entire stock of seeds on
hand, and Mr.. Fraser has planted the
seeds in nursery for the future sales
of trees raised from them.
Within few days Mr. .Moulie will
dispatch to DR.. David Fairchild, head
of the plant industry OF the United
States department of agriculture,
Washington, D. c., the 5000 letters
of inquiry regarding the soap berry
tree. The government has imported
quantity Of the seed Of the tree
and will send to the writer's of the let
tiers of inquiry specimens OF the seed
and instructions as how to best cult
yate the tree in an effort to devotion