Iron . 
tion chiefly to the forge pig (oxygenated crude iron). 
This variety of iron becomes sooner malleable, but is 
likewise susceptible of early oxydation, and consequently 
liable to become cold short* Neither can it unite to baf 
iron those properties from whence are derived great 
strength and ductility. 
When carbonated crude iron is used, the waste then is 
apt to be excessive : the metal retains for too long a peri- 
od its fusible principle, which must necessarily expose 
the mass to a longer continued action of the flame, whereby 
oxydation on the metal in a fluid state takes place, and a 
considerable portion of it is destroyed before the iron ex- 
hibit signs of infusibility. Malleable iron made from this 
state of the metal has a great tendency to be red short, 
and loses also considerably of its weight under the forge 
hammer. 
It has at all times been asserted, that crude iron contains 
a considerable proportion of its parts, by weight, inimical 
to malleability ; and that, in the operation of refining, it 
then parts with this proportion of mixture which renders 
the remainder malleable. A conclusive inference from 
this would be, that some crude irons contain one half, 
some three fourths, and others again an equal portion of 
mixture for iron ; seeing these are the proportions lost 
by iron in the operation of rendering it malleable. The 
mischief with which this fallacious opinion is fraught is 
inconceivable ; especially as it has been supported by 
men who have laid claim to scientific and practical abili- 
ties ; the belief of it slackens the industry of individuals 
to attempt lessening the loss of real metal ; on the contra- 
ry, workmen are taught to look upon a large proportion 
of it as incapable of being metallized, and as only fit for 
destruction. 
If manufacturers ofbar-iron would more frequently de- 
prive a given weight of the scoria of the refinery and pud- 
