DEAR SIR, 



RUSH CANDLES. 



LETTER LXVIII. 



TO THE SAME. 



SELBORNE, Nov. 1, 1775- 



" Hie taedse pingues, hie plurimus ignis 



Semper, et assidua postes fuligine nigri." 



I SHALL make no apology for troubling- you with 

 the detail of a very simple piece of domestic economy, 

 being satisfied that you think nothing beneath your 

 attention that tends to utility : the matter alluded to 

 is the use of rushes instead of candles, which I am 

 well aware prevails in many districts besides this ; 

 but as I know there are countries also where it does 

 not obtain, and as I have considered the subject with 

 some degree of exactness, I shall proceed in my 

 humble story, and leave you to judge of the ex- 

 pediency. 



The proper species of rush for this purpose seems 

 to be ihejuncus conglomerate, or common soft rush, 

 which is to be found in most moist pastures, by the 

 sides of streams, and under hedges. These rushes 

 are in best condition in the height of summer ; but 

 may be gathered, so as to serve the purpose well, 

 quite on to autumn. It would be needless to add, 

 that the largest and longest are best. Decayed 

 labourers, women, and children, make it their busi- 

 ness to procure and prepare them. As soon as 

 they are cut, they must be flung into water, and 

 kept there ; for otherwise they will dry and shrink, 

 and the peel will not run. At first, a person would 

 find it no easy matter to divest a rush of its peel, 



