Fort Pierce news. (Fort Pierce, Fla.) 190?-1920, 1908-09-11
MOULIE TALKS OF SOAP TREE
The Discoverer Tells of the Won.
derful Possibilities.

ne loiloWing article from Sundays
Times-Union will further explain the
novel soapberry tree. Mr.. Moulie
claims to be the discoverer and oripina.
tor OF this tree, and after our article
two weeks ago, sent us considerable
literature on the subject, with the in
junction to tread the enclosed and be
WISE" We read, but the most we found
out was that he had sold out his inter-
est in the matter, and his successor
would be glad to sell seed and trees at
so much per. The Times Union article
follows;
A Times Union representative visited
the laboratory Of Mr.. E. Moulie at the
Florida ostrich farm Saturday after
noon, and was astonished when shown
a batch of 5000 letters Of inquiry from
persons in all parts of the world rela-
tive to the soapberry tree, one Of Mr..
Moulie's most recent discoveries.
While a majority Of the inquiries
come from points in this country, yet
there are letters from England, Ire
land, Australia, Honolulu, British Co.
lumbia, Honduras, Bahamas, Mexico,
Porto Rico, Cuba, Brazil, France,
Egypt, New Zealand and other foreign
lands. The enquiries are the direct
result Of an article written for the
Times-Union by Mr.. Moulie 10 April Of
this year, regarding the wonderful tree,
and which was copied by the papers
throughout the world.
AT the beginning of the year 1905,
report from Hon. Kidder, then United
States consul at Algiers was published
in the American Soap Journal" said
Mr., Moulie, in explaining The peculi-
arities OF the tree, "That report told
of the existence of an industry of great
importance in that country, that indus
uy'being the growing of the soap tree
and of the commercial and industrial
resources derived from Its fruit, the
soap berry.
SIN describing that tree Mr.. Kidder
stated that the Algerian soap tree or
iginated in China, and has been propa-
gated by seeds imported from that
country. Following Mr.. Kidder's re-
port, tree similar to the Algerian
species 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.
"In the hull exists the saponaceous
matter in the proportion of 80 to 40 per
cent of the bulk of the hull. This sap
onaceous principle is set free by the
shredding Of the hull and using 1t with
water just as if it were piece OF soap
Crumbling hull in his hands and
dipping them in water, Mr.. Moulie then
demonstrated the qualities OF the sapo-
naceous matter. A beautiful lather re-
suited and and the cleansing qualities
we're proven remarkable.
."No human skill can produce, nor APP
proach this marvellous product OF nat
ure." continued Mr.. Moulie. That
hull can also be made into powder
and that powder into a cake SO as 70
make the use of it easier. 1t can also
be made into liquid for hair wasn'
dentifrlce and various prepare tlons'
and these articles can be made by such
simple processes that in every house,
hold this commodity will become
source of economy, OF recreation ana
pleasure.
I contemplate too, in the near fuSure
n demonstrate freely these processes,
and thus render an Invaluable service
70 the growers Of the soap tree:
"The berry has a kernel which con-
tains flxed oil in every respect supe-
rior to the best imported olive OIL 70,
either eating or culinary purposes, ana
s,so Tor ali Kinds of industrial products
g. wbicb olive oil is used. The yield 10
oil Of that kernel is twice the yielo OF
the olive fruit, and when the proouc-
ton reaches an important stage neces-
stating Sisu the use Of proper machinery,
that oil will be produced as cneapis ~ =
not DoI cheaper, than cottonseed oil. :. F so,.
: a. ,solId shortening, the delicious mayor
: , the oil will surpass anything ever
pooduced in that line.