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Iron potash kettle c. 1800.
Burning felled trees and brush made crude potash also known as black salts which were used in the production of soaps and dyes and in the manufacture of glass. A more refined form of the ash, perlasse, was used to make salteratus, a leavening agent for baking. Missisquoi Bay entrepreneur Philip Luke owned and operated one of the earliest asheries in the county and sold his commodity in St. John's and Montreal. (Missisquoi Historical Society Collections)
Burning felled trees and brush made crude potash also known as black salts which were used in the production of soaps and dyes and in the manufacture of glass. A more refined form of the ash, perlasse, was used to make salteratus, a leavening agent for baking. Missisquoi Bay entrepreneur Philip Luke owned and operated one of the earliest asheries in the county and sold his commodity in St. John's and Montreal. (Missisquoi Historical Society Collections)