Metallurgy: 421 
~. In addition to the above om the spectra of sodium, potas- 
eleme 
It is els the dust which remains lying on the boilers, or is deposited 
on the iron doors or shutters of the boiler-chamber, which gives the -_ 
lium reaction, while that which has fallen to the floor does not show 
é€ reason probably i is, that it is volatilized by the higher heat of the 
flame, and escapes throu 
which seem to act as condensers. Ihave not been able to detect it in 
the ashes of anthracite from a common stove, while they beautifully dis- 
play the sodium, potassium and lithium lines. 
Bethlehem, Pa., April 8, 1863. 
2. Bessemer’s process for the production of Iron and Steel. —This 
method for converting the purer varieties of pig-iron is steel and bar- 
iron is constantly i increasing in favor among European 
In a recent nT a to the “ Berggeist,” Prof TUNER states 
that thousands of ¢ f Bessemer-steel and iron are now annually 
produced in England ‘and ecuas that Bessemer-stee] is already an ar- 
ticle of commerce in Germany ; and that _— wor 
erected for the anak of this method in-Fra 
Whenever the proper raw-material is used, piace 8 process see 
steel which in all respects is fully equal to the best ailithes of cast-steel ; 
and iron of as good quality as the best forge-iron. The loss in converting 
pig-iron into steel, by this method, is 12 to 15 pr. ct., and in makin ng bar- 
Iron 18 to 22 pr. ct. In 5 to 10 minutes, 15 to 20 ewt. of fluid pig-iron 
are converted into steel or bar-iron with scarcely any cost for ri — 
without hand labor. The pressure of blast used is from 4 to 14 at 
Spheres, and the — is 800 to 1200 cubic feet of cold air of aa 
ordinary atmospheric de sity. 
Only good ¢ aceae is adapted for conversion by this method, and 
the reason of the failure of the earlier experiments was the employment 
of i improper and inferior raw-material. Swedish pig-iron is now alwa 
used in England for the production of the best sorts of steel and iron. 
n some of the new iron works attempts have been made to improve the 
quality. of English pig tr which has been carried to the ee of con- 
version, by adding to it melted Swedish pig-iron; manganese compounds 
have also been used rig ate same purpose. But the separation of the 
Mr. Crookes has recently announced that he has found thallium in compara- 
yd large a entities in the deposit t from us flues of Mr. Spence’s pyrites burners 
nchester.— Chem. News, vil, 150.—e. J. B. 
Am. Jour. ites —Anconss sland: Vou. XXXV, No. 105.—Mar, 1863, 
Ss 
