Cast Steel. 
391 
modifications that are sufficiently obvious, it would in all 
probability be found highly advantageous. 
The native steel of Eisenhaftz in Stiria has always 
been in high estimation since the eighth century, and is 
prepared directly from the ore nearly in the same manner 
as common bar iron. The ore made use of, is the Spa- 
those Ironstone, consisting of the carbonats of iron, man- 
ganese and lime, together with a mixture of clay : it is 
procured in vast abundance from the neighbouring hill 
of Arzberg, and care is taken not to use any that has not 
been exposed for several years to the action ox the an. 
No dux of any kind is necessary, and the fuel, which i 
charcoal, does not on an average exceed in weight one 
fifth of the ore. When a sufficient quantity of melted 
matter is collected at the bottom of the furnace it is let 
out into a deep mould, where it remains quiet a few mi- 
nutes to allow the scoriae to rise to the surface : this being 
done, a little water is sprinkled over it, which hardens the 
scoriae and renders them easily removable : a second but 
much thinner crust of scoria? generally succeeds, which 
is got rid of in the same manner. A little water is now 
thrown on the melted metal itself, by which its surface is 
suddenly covered with a congealed crust about an inch 
thick ; this is removed, and by repetitions of the same pro- 
cess the greater part of the mass is thus converted into 
these irregular plates * what remains is a mass in the state 
of half malleable iron. These plates are transferred to 
the crucible of a refinery which has been previously lined 
with charcoal, and are covered with scoria? and brought to 
a state of fusion, carefully observing however not to direct 
the blast from the bellows into the crucible, lest the iron 
should be decarbonized. After the whole has been in 
quiet fusion for some time, the fire is slackened, and as soon 
as the metal has congealed the scoria? still fluid are let off* 
The mass is then subjected to. a second fusion in the iw 
