2-1 PRELIMINARY NOTICE ON THE 



This very simple plan of furnace is extremely effective, its yield Ls 

 large, and its production rapid and equable. 



I feel satisfied that the introduction of either of these plans, or some 

 slight modifications of them, would prove of much greater advantage 

 than any attempt to establish iron works on the system adopted in 

 England for the treatment of the ores of that country, which are essen- 

 tially of a different character from those now referred to. 



The question of the amount of fuel is an all-important one and 



worthy of more serious consideration than it has 

 Fuel. 



hitherto received. 



Here, as in almost every direction, in questions bearing upon 



„ ^ ^ , , metallurgical processes in this country, we are 

 Great want of accurate or ." 



aadrecordedobsenrations. ^^^^ ^y ^^g serious difficulties arising from the 



want of accurate investigations. 



In Europe the average yield in charcoal of all the ordinary varieties 



of wood, when charred, is well established. In India I am not aware of 



a single trustworthy experiment on such subjects. 



Experience has proved to the native workmen, 



Charcoal of the sM used that for their Ordinary processes, the charcoal made 

 in ordinary by the na- 

 tives, from the ski (Shorea robusta) is best adapted. 



For some special processes other charcoal is preferred, that of bamboos 



for instance, of the bhyr, &c., but I am unable to state what the real 



or even relative calorific values of such charcoals are. 



But for a rude calculation, we may, 1 presume, estimate that if 

 made on any thing approaching to sound principles, the charcoal derived 

 from the harder timbers of this country will be equal to the average 

 quality of charcoal prepared in Europe from the hard timbers of that 

 country. 



Again, we cannot say what proportion the charcoal obtained bears 

 to the wood employed. Doubtless, on the system of rapid burning now 

 in use among the natives, the yield is very small ; but this would of 



