Steel. 
269 
cond fusion, but it is rendered more homogeneous* This 
method is excellent, and is perhaps the only means by 
which an exceedingly good steel can be had. 
The other part of the process is worthy of much attention, 
namely, the reduction of the crude iron into plates. When 
bar iron is wanted, these plates roast with more facility on 
account of the great surface they present to the air. And 
when steel is wanted, they are more readily fused, and 
sink beneath the scoriae, which prevents the charcoal of 
the iron from being consumed by the action of the air. 
On the contrary, they absorb what might have been want- 
ing from the lining of the hearth or cavity, which is pre- 
pared in such a manner, as to support itself without being 
consumed, through the whole of the operation. 
When the steel has congealed in the furnace, it is taken 
out and divided into several portions more or less consi- 
derable, which are carried to the hammer. Here a sepa- 
ration is made of such portions as are not reduced into 
steel, but iron, and which occupy the surface of the 
pieces. Each piece is drawn out into bars, which, are re- 
duced into other smaller bars of different dimensions, by 
separating the softest parts from those which are more hard. 
For steel of a superior quality, several bars of the soft 
and hard kinds are united by welding and forging. The 
hardest are placed in the middle. 
We have shown that in order to obtain steel from crude 
iron, it is necessary to have an iron abounding with coal ; 
but there is an excess which is hurtful. The black crude 
iron, which contains too much coal, affords a steel so brit- 
tle as to be of no use. This kind of steel becomes fixed 
with more difficulty than good steel. When the work- 
man perceives this, symptom, he may prevent the bad ef- 
fect by adding a certain quantity of old iron fragments, 
which deprives the too steely metal of its excess of coal, 
and, by incorporating with it, produces an uniform mass 
