ASHES, the earthy particles of combustible substances after they have been burnt.
If the ashes are produced from vegetable bodies, they contain a considerable quantity of fixed salt, blended with the terrene particles: and from these ashes the fixed alkaline salts called pot-ash, pearl-ash, &c. are extracted.
The ashes of all vegetables are vitrifiable, and found to contain iron.—They are also an excellent manure for cold and wet grounds. See AGRICULTURE, no 21.