216 Iron . 
coal ; and as soon as the metal is in fusion it is let out in- 
to a mould of sand to separate the scoria that rise to 
its surface, and in this state is called a half bloom . As 
soon as it has become solid it is again transferred to the 
furnace and treated as before. Sometimes even a third 
fusion is required before the iron shews sufficient mallea- 
bility to clot into lumps when broken down almost at a 
fusing heat, by an iron bar. When it has acquired this 
consistency, it is taken out in moderate size pieces, which 
being placed under the great forge or shingling hammer, 
are speedily stamped into cakes about an inch in thickness. 
Several piles of these cakes about a foot high, are then laid 
on flat circular stones, and placed in the balling or rever- 
beratory furnace, where they are strongly heated. As 
soon as the whole acquires a pasty state, one of the piles 
is taken out by a workman and drawn under the hammer 
into a short bar : which being finished, is applied to ano- 
ther of the piles, to which it presently adheres : being then 
withdrawn, the new portion is welded firmly to the first 
by means of the hammer, and thus the bar is doubled in 
length ; by repeating the same simple and ingenious ope- 
ration, the bar is made as long as its weight will conve- 
niently allow. The cracks in the bar are then closed, and 
its tenacity is improved by heating it afresh in a fire made 
of coal, called the chaffery , (chaufferie Fr.) and again sub- 
jecting it to the action of the forge-hammer. It is now 
in the state of common bar iron, and ought to be entirely 
free from all earthy particles. After this, according to the 
use for which it is intended, it is transferred to the slitting 
mill ; where it is laminated and cut up into bars and rods 
of various dimensions, by which its toughness and com- 
pactness is much improved, and is then ready for the 
smith. 
The above method is called stamping ; but besides 
this, there is another known by the name of flourishing , 
