[ 543 ] 
this Commodity, of which fcveral have been fug- 
geflcd to me, from the feveral Trials and Informa- 
tions hereafter mentioned. 
It is well known, that the Afhes of all kinds of 
Vegetables whatever afford Pot-afh in fome mcafure 
or other ; altho' fome are much more fit for that 
Purpofe than others, which may be determined from 
the Experiments of Redi in the Thilofoph. Tranf. 
N°. 243, p. 28 1. Boerhaave , Merret , and others i fo 
that we need not infill upon them here. 
As for the Trees and Herbs of our Colonies in 
North America , moll of thofe that are common 
in their Woods are known to be fit for this Pur- 
pofe, as the Afhes of them all, burnt promifcuoufly 
in their Houles, make a very firong Lye fit for 
Soap. Of thefe, the fiitcfl for that Purpofe is their 
Hiccory , the mod common Tree in their Woods, 
which makes the purefl and whited Afhes, of the 
{harped Tade, and dronged Lye, of any Wood I 
have fecn. Their Stickweed is faid to do the fame, 
which is as common a Weed. For this Realon the 
A dies of both thefe Plants were ufed by our In- 
dians there, indead of Salt, before they learnt the 
Ufe of common Salt from the Europeans. The 
Afnes of Tobacco Iikewife, when damnified, or not 
fit for a Marker, or its Stalks, Stems, and Suckers, 
of which great Quantities are thrown away, and 
rot and perifh, are very fit for Pot-afh, as they con- 
tain a great deal of Salts, and are well known to 
make a drong Lye. 
On the other hand, Tines , Firs y Saffafras y 
Liquid Amber , or Sweet Gum , or all odoriferous 
Woods, and thofe that abound with a Refin or 
Gum^ 
