SteeL 
267 
jj 
I a more perfect union is produced between the charcoal 
and the iron. The process as described by Hazenfratz 
is as follows : 
“ The crude iron is reduced into thin plates, or leaves, 
when it is drawn from the smelting furnace. For this pur- 
pose a mould, or hemispherical cavity, is prepared before 
i[ the furnace. It is formed of the scorise reduced into very 
fine powder, and wetted to make them adhere together. 
The work is then opened with an iron bar, in order that 
the scoriae may fiow into the mould, and dissipate its mois- 
ture. These are in the next place taken out, and the me- 
tal itself is suffered to flow at first in a small stream, and 
afterwards more speedily. The aperture is enlarged in 
proportion as it flows out, and at last the scoriae fall on the 
iron, and cover it in the mould. The furnace is then 
! again closed, and the blast renewed. Water being thrown 
on the scoriae which occupy the upper portion of the 
mould, they become fixed, and in this state are removed „ 
A second portion of water is then thrown on the naked 
surface of the metal, which congeals to a small depth. 
The thin congealed plate is taken off, and a second asper- 
sion of water is made, which affords a third plate. In 
this manner the process is continued, until as much of the 
metal is converted into plates as can be effected during the 
fluidity of the mass. 
At some works the iron is melted in a particular fur- 
nace from the pig, for this purpose ; but this second ope- 
ration is evidently wasteful both of time and fuel. 
The plates are intended to be made into either iron or 
steel. 
In the process for making bar iron, the first operation 
consists in roasting the plates on a hearth, upon which they 
are arranged ; a passage being formed with bricks, in or- 
der that the wind of the bellows may be directed from one 
extremity to the other. They are then covered with char- 
