D. CHEMISTRY AND METALLURGY. 85 



ammonia, or alumina, to the solution used in nickelizing. Of 

 these salts, that will be most desirable the basis of which con- 

 sists of the same alkaline earth as that of the double salt 

 used in nickelizing. Thus, with a solution of a salt of nickel 

 and ammonia, we should use a tartrate of ammonia, etc. In 

 this case, with 20 quarts of the aqueous solution of the sul- 

 phate of nickel and ammonia, of 7 Baume, we should add 

 about one quart of an active solution of tartrate of ammonia, 

 of about the same specific gravity. 6 (7, Feb. 8, 1872, 58. 



CAST-STEEL FROM THE IRON SAND OF NEW ZEALAND. 



According to the London Times, iron sand, as found on the 

 beaches in New Zealand, is used in the manufacture of steel. 

 The process consists in mixing the sand with an equal quan- 

 tity of clay and of the ordinary sea sand, containing a large 

 percentage of shells, and then working this into bricks, which 

 are hardened in a kiln, broken up into irregular pieces, and 

 smelted in an ordinary cupola furnace. The result is a cast- 

 steel from which some beautiful specimens of the finest cut- 

 lery have been manufactured. 



These experiments were conducted by' a mechanic in gov- 

 ernment employ, who was restricted to an expenditure of 

 100. With the apparatus he was able to construct with 

 this sum, he succeeded in producing 500 pounds of steel in 

 the manner described above. 5 A, April 20, 1872, 211. 



ON BURNED IRON. 



Various investigations have been prosecuted for the pur- 

 pose of determining the precise causes under which is pro- 

 duced what is known as the burned condition of iron. Thus, 

 if a bar of iron be allowed to cool in the air without beino- 

 hammered, it becomes brittle ; after having been raised to a 

 white heat, and on breaking, it presents a laminated, crystal- 

 line appearance. The iron is then said to be burned, and is 

 generally supposed to have absorbed oxygen. Recent ex- 

 periments show, however, that a similar condition is pro- 

 duced whether the iron is heated in the air, in a neutral or a 

 reducing atmosphere; and it is therefore inferred that the 

 character is not due to the absorption of oxygen, but to a 

 change in the molecular condition caused by heat. 20 A, 

 June 20,1872,745. 



