232 



These axe either rubbed upon the garment or added to the wash water. 

 Among these are the roots of various agaves, yuccas, etc., and several 

 fruits, as that of the soap berry and of Zi/yphus. Manufactured soap 

 is now widely used, either imported from the United States or made in 

 the country. For the domestic soaps oils are obtained from the seeds 

 and fruits both of native and introduced plants, the most important 

 being a palm oil much used on the west coast, castor oil, and cotton- 

 seed oil. 



In the notes which follow I have included both the species which 

 were collected by myself and those which have been sent in by our col- 

 lectors, especially Dr. B. Palmer. In the list at the end are recorded 

 all the species which have been reported as used for soap or in soap 

 making. 



PALMACEAE. 



Attalea cohune Mart. ? Coquito. 



A palm known to the trade as the coquito grows in abundance about 

 Man/aniilo and furnishes large quantities of oil, which is shipped to 

 the larger towns along the coast and manufactured into soap. Sufli- 

 cient material has not been seen positively to identify the species, but 

 it seems best to refer it as above until it can be definitely named. 



Through the kindness of Mr. Alfred Gill, in charge of Mr. X. Graff's 

 soap factory at Guaymas, I obtained a sample of soap and of tiie palm 

 oil made from this nut. The oil comes from Mauzanillo and San Bias, 

 and is made from tlie nuts grown about Manzanillo and perhaps other 

 places in south Mexico. About 100,000 pounds of this oil is used each 

 year by Mr. Graff in his soap factory. A consignment of 57,000 pounds 

 had just been ordered from San Bias at the time of my visit. The oil 

 has much the odor of olive oil, and is said to make a very fine laundry 

 soap, especially valuable for washing flannels. It is sold all over the 

 State of Sonora, and is said to be liked much better than any soaps 

 from the States. The soap is iirst made into a large cake which weighs 

 2,000 pounds. The large cake is at last cut into small pieces of 3, 3A, 

 4, 5, 7, 8, and 10 ounces, and then boxed for shipment to various places 

 along the coast. In the making of each cake 350 pounds of the oil is 

 used and 800 pounds of tallow. 



The following specimens were secured: 



EB No. 12S. Piilm oil obtained at Guaymas. 



YAi No. 121). A piece of soap obtained at Gnaymas 



LILIACEAE. 



Yucca baccata Torr. 



It probably will be a surprise to many to learn that amole soap is 

 much used in the United States. 



The large rootstocks of Yucca baccata have long been used at 

 Peoria, 111., in making a line toilet soap. A thousand pounds of this 

 plant is consumed each month by the Mexican Amole Soap Company, 



