112 



REPORT — 1853. 



find this iron of a high order as regards strength ; whether viewed in its 

 power of resistance to compression or a transverse strain, it is alike conclu- 

 sive in its measure of strength. In both cases it was approaching its 

 maximum power of resistance, as may be seen on comparing the three last 

 experiments with those from which the iron was taken in the other. 



Experiment XIV. — Twelfth Melting. 



In the three last experiments the specimens were indented to a depth of 

 about the 40th part of an inch into the solid steel plates, and this may ac- 

 count for the comparative weakness of the thirteenth melting, as the spe- 

 cimen in the last experiment did not lie solid upon the plates. 



Experiment XVI. — Fourteenth Melting. 



From the great weight required to fracture this specimen — nearly 100 tons 

 to the square inch — I find on examining the fracture that the iron was so 

 excessively hard as to make indentation into the steel plate to a depth of 

 nearly one-twelfth of an inch. The colour was a whitish gray, and harder 

 than cast steel. 



The increased weight required in the previous experiment induced 

 change in the size of the remaining specimens, which were reduced to five- 

 eighth-inch cubes. 



On examination we found this specimen to contain a band of exceedingly 

 white hard iron, the interior of a bluish tinge, and much softer than the 

 corners or the outer edges. This will account for the comparatively smal 

 weight which produced fracture in this when compared with the previous ex- 

 periment. 



