The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1910-05-21
THE SOAP-NUT TREE
1t May Be Made Most Valuable to the
Florida Farmer

1t May Be Made Most Valuable to the
Florida Farmer
At the beginning of the year 1905
a report from Hon. Kidder, then
United States consul at Algiers CAL
geria), was published in the Ameri-
can Soap Journal, journal of which
have been the correspondent for
more than seventeen years. The re-
port related the existence of an in
dustry 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-nut.
Mr.. Kidder describes that tree as
follows: The Algerian soap tree
originated from China, and has been
propagated by seeds imported from
that country.
The name is given as Sapindas
Utilis-that tree is ornamental and
reaches a height of fifty feet. 1t
begins to bear fruit when six years
old
The wood is close grained, takes
a good polish, and is admirably suit
able for furniture.
The average crop of full grown
tree is about 200 pounds of fruit.
The average income from a tree is
from SO to $40 per year. The
composition of the fruit consists of
a nut-shaped hull in which is a seed.
In the hull exists the saponaceous
matter (saponine) in the proportion
of 80 to 40 per cent. of the hull.
This saponaceous principle is set
free by the shredding of the hull and
using it with water just as if it were
a piece of soap. A beautiful lather
is the result, and the cleansing quail
tiles are such that there is no soap
made by human process that can
compare to them. For toilet pur-
poses the same applies. No human
skill can produce, nor approach,
that marvellous product Of nature.
That hull can also be made into
powder and that powder into a
cake SO as to make the use of it
easier. 1t also can be made into a
liquid for hair wash, dentifrice and
various other preparations and these
various articles can be made by such
simple process or processes that in
every household that commodity
will become a source of economy, OF
recreation and of pleasure.
/ contemplate, too, in the near flu
ture, to demonstrate freely these
processes, and thus to render an in
valuable service to the growers OF
the soap tree.
The seed has a kernel which con
tains a fixed oil in every respect pre-
ferable to the best imported olive
oil, either for eatable or culinary
purposes, and also for all kinds OF
industrial products in which the
olive oil is used. The yield in oil OF
that kernel is twice the yield of the
olive fruit, and when the production
reaches an Importance, neceSSitatins
the use of proper machinery, that OF
will be produced as cheaply, if no.
cheaper, than the cotton seed oil
For a solid shortening the deli
cious flavor of that oil will surpas:
anything ever produced in that line
AS a meal for poultry and othel
animals feed, the product from The
press after the oil is pressed out
| there is nothing superior to it. The
leaves of the soap-nut tree supply {
| fodder Of unequalled value.
Medicinal Virtues.
Reliable authorities assert tina
| the soap-nut is used internally il
| cases of salvation, epilepsy and a
an eXpectorant. That the seeds
pounded with water, are said to of
| ten put an end to parOXySm of cpl
lepsy when small quantity is in
| troduced into the patients mouth
| This fruit is also recommended b,
native practitioners for the cure o
| chlorosis.
While the foregoing synopsis ha
been related as pertaining to the Al
| gerian soap tree, the seeds of whicl
| l imported in 1905 and 1906 for M
| first free distribution, everything il
| that des cription applies to the Flor
i ida soap tree.
\ The discovery of a full-grown soa
\ tree in Florida, owned by Mr.. J. H
Livingston, of Ocala, Fla, was due t
my publication of the report of tn
American consul, as stated before
| The origin of that tree is also from
| China, some seeds having been i'm
| ported about twenty-five years ago b
| Rev. Benjamin Helm, who was
| missionary in that country. Althoug
| these two species are the sam
names, as a variety they differ A
stated several times in my articles
requested from the United State
Department of Agriculture. a relia
BILE identification of the Florida SOAP
nut tree, and we found that this va
riety is the "sapindus mukorossi,
and it is the seeds of this variet
that I am now distributing.
Northern People Anxious, Also
At the jamestown Exposition
had the good fortune to make friend
with a gentleman who has realize
the importance of that industry 70
all the United States, and who is i
position Ito know"
| That gentleman is Mr.. julius
| Heinrich, who represented the grea
firm of Peter Henderson & Co., Q
| New York, and who had the entir
and exclusive charge of the horticu
tural and Horticultural decorations G
the exposition grounds, and all thos
| who have seen the results of hi
work will testify to his Abilities
1t is Mr.. Heinrich who has take
charge Of the five living soap trees
had on exhibition for transplantin
in the dollhouse of the Central Parl
New York city.
1t is Mr.. Heinrich who suggeste
the possibility of introducing tina
tree into the country houses c
wealthy people who have conServatC
ries and where my lady of fashion
could have the satisfaction of gath
ering from trees of her own such
valuable and Incompatible adjunC
to the requisites of the beauty table