398 Notices of Books. [July, 
the manner in which it has been got up leaves nothing to be 
desired: it is printed in a good bold type, and illustrated with 
thirty-seven plates carefully drawn and clearly lettered. 
Results of an Experimental Enquiry into the Mechanical Proper- 
ties of Steel of Different Degrees of Hardness, and under 
Various Conditions, Manufactured by Charles Aspelin, Esq., 
Westanfors and Fagersta Works, Sweden. By Davip 
KirKALpy. London: published by the Author. 1873. 
WirTuin the last few years a revolution has been gradually 
effected in constructive art by the introduction of a material 
which combines, in an eminent degree, strength, hardness, 
and toughness, and which admits, according to its mode of 
preparation, of great variations in its physical properties, and is 
therefore applicable to a vast variety of purposes. As the appli- 
cations of.steel are constantly being extended, it becomes a 
matter of great importance to the mechanical, civil, and mining 
engineer that the physical properties of the material should be 
accurately determined. Few men are better qualified to conduct 
such enquiries than is Mr. Kirkaldy. His great experience in 
testing the mechanical properties of metals is the best guarantee 
that his tests are judiciously applied, and the results intelligently 
interpreted. 
In the present work Mr. Kirkaldy gives*the results of an 
elaborate enquiry into the physical characters of a large number 
of samples of Swedish steel, made at Fagersta. Some of these 
tested specimens were sent to the Paris Exhibition of 1867, but 
the greater number were prepared for the late Vienna Exhibition. 
The results exhibit the behaviour of the metal when subjected to 
pulling, thrusting, bending, twisting, and shearing strains; in 
fact, when tortured in every way that can possibly be of interest 
to the engineer. These results are exhibited in a series of 
carefully-arranged tables, which, although of great value for 
reference, are not of course attractive to the reader. They 
deserve, however, to be carefully studied by all who are interested 
in the manufacture and applications of modern steel. 
Annual Record of Science and Industry for 1873. Edited by 
SPENCER F. Barrp. New York: Harper Brothers. 
Tuis work, which has now reached its third year, is in its general 
objects similar to the ‘‘ Year-Book of Facts.” It has, however, 
certain unmistakable advantages over its English contemporary, 
Its information is not drawn from ordinary newspapers. 
