COTTON CULTURE. 185 



a table oil, its use was finally abandoned even at the price 

 of fifty cents a gallon. 



Practical soap makers say, the quantity of stearine 

 contained in cotton seed oil is insufficient to take up the 

 quantity of resin necessary to make a superior quality 

 of family soap. In the manufacture of the finest qualities 

 of fancy soaps, it seemed to be a first-class stock. But, 

 after the soaps of all grades were packed in boxes and 

 allowed to stand a few months, a dark brown liquid, of 

 a gummy nature, would ooze from the bars and cakes, 

 and the soap would become soft. It, therefore, was un- 

 salable, and hence the use of cotton seed oil was aban- 

 doned. The ablest chemists in the country were employed 

 to analyze the oil, and to discover, if possible, an agent 

 that would destroy or neutralize this unmanageable ele- 

 ment. These efforts of science were unsuccessful, though 

 they were conducted under the patronage of one of the 

 largest establishments in the country ; soap-makers, there- 

 fore, concluded that a firm, durable soap could not be 

 made from cotton seed oil. 



At about this same tune a series of experiments made 

 with great care, by Mr. A. W. Harrison, manufacturer of 

 various grades of soap, perfumery, extracts, ink and other 

 articles, in Philadelphia, resulted much more favorably. 



Mr. Harrison says : 



" In the years 1860 and '61, I used large quantities of 

 cotton-seed oil in the manufacture of family soap, and 

 found it to possess peculiar and valuable qualities for that 

 purpose. 



" Considerable skill and careful manipulation are required 

 for the production of hard soap from this oil ; but, after 

 many experiments, I succeeded in obtaining, uniformly 

 and readily, a firm, solid, fine-grained soap, of a pale yel- 

 low or cream color, and of the highest quality. It gives, 

 without the use of resin or any other foreign substance, a 



