358 
Cast Steel . 
iron with well prepared charcoal of wood in vessels com- 
pletely air-tight, would be productive of the greatest nice- 
ty of result. With this view, the proportions of iron and 
. charcoal recorded in the following experiments were each 
of them introduced into crucibles of Stourbridge clay 
while the clay was yet moist. The top was accurately 
closed upon the contents, and the crucibles set aside to 
dry for eight or ten days. Previous to the introduction 
into the melting furnace they were baked in a common an* 
nealing fire to bring them to an ordinary red heat : from 
this furnace, while hot, they were successively placed in 
the assay-furnace for reduction. 
The following are the details of these experiments : 
Grains. 
Exp. I. Pieces of Swedish iron - - 1173 
Charcoal T , or - grs. 581 1 
The mixture was exposed to a moderate degree 
of heat for 70 minutes, when the crucible was 
withdrawn. When cold it was carefully exa- 
mined, and found free from cracks. 
Charcoal untaken up, of a deep black colour, 310™ 
Charcoal disappeared in the fusion - 271 
equal to 48 per cent, of the original quantity. 
The button obtained was supercarbonated crude iron, 
and weighed. 1233 
Gained in weight, by the combination of carbon, 60 
equal to -~th part fully of the first weight of iron. 
The fracture of this button was exactly that of No. L 
pig iron, towards the upper surface largely granulated ; 
and below a substratum of small grained metal resem- 
bling No. Ill, pig irpn. Grains. 
Total weight of the mixtures - 1754-!- 
