Mr. Mushet's Experiments on Wootz. \6j 
The fractures of both half cakes, now obtained for a second 
time, were materially different from that obtained by the simple 
division of the cake. The grain was nearly uniform, distinctly 
marked, but of too gray a colour for serviceable steel. Two 
of the quarters being drawn into neat bars under hand ham- 
mers at a low heat, one of them contained a number of cracks 
and fissures. The fracture was gray, tore out a little in break- 
ing, but was otherwise yolky and excessively dense. A small 
bar of penknife size was improved greatly in drawing down, 
and had only one crack in thirteen inches of length. The 
grain and fracture were both highly improved by this addi- 
tional labour ; the tenacity of the steel was greater, and it 
stood firmly under the hammer at a bright red heat. 
The other two quarters of this cake were squared a little, 
and successively put under a tilt hammer, of two hundred 
weight, going at the rate of three hundred blows per minute, 
and drawn into small penknife size. One of the bars from an 
outside piece, always the most solid, was entirely free from 
cracks, and had only one small scale running upon one side. 
These bars exhibited a tougher break, than those drawn by 
hand ; the colour was whiter, and the grain possessed a more 
regular and silky appearance. 
Forging No. 2 . 
One half of this cake was heated to a scarlet shade, and put 
under the cutting chissel ; it was at first struck lightly, then 
reheated, and cut comparatively soft ; but a small crack had 
over-run the progress of the chissel. Its softness in cutting 
was attributed to an evident want of solidity. The other half 
cake felt harder under the hammer, but proved afterwards 
