in the iron works, is a part of a few or block of cast iron broken or melted off from the rest, and prepared for the forge or hammer. The usual method is, to break off the loop of about three quarters of a hundred weight. This loop they take up with their flinging-tongs, and beat it with iron fledge upon an iron plate near the fire, so it may not fall to pieces, but be in a condition to be carried under the hammer. It is then placed under the hammer, and a little water being drawn to make the hammer move but softly, it is beat very gently, and by this means the dross and foulnesses are forced off; and after this they draw more and more water by degrees, and beat it more and more till they bring it to a four-square mass, of about two feet long, which they call a bloom.