OF SELBORNE. 187 



When these junci are thus far prepared, they must lie out on 

 the grass to be bleached, and take the dew for some nights, 

 and afterwards be dried in the sun. 



Some address is required in dipping these rushes in the 

 scalding fat or grease ; but this knack also is to be attained by 

 practice. The careful wife of an industrious Hampshire la- 

 bourer obtains all her fat for nothing ; for she saves the scum- 

 mings of her bacon-pot for this use ; and, if the grease abounds 

 with salt, she causes the salt to precipitate to the bottom, by 

 setting the scummings in a warm oven. Where hogs are not 

 much in use, and especially by the sea-side, the coarser ani- 

 mal oils will come very cheap. A pound of common grease 

 may be procured for four pence ; and about six pounds of 

 grease will dip a pound of rushes ; and one pound of rushes 

 may be bought for one shilling : so that a pound of rushes, 

 medicated and ready for use, will cost three shillings. If men 

 that keep bees will mix a little wax with the grease, it will 

 give it a consistency, and render it more cleanly, and make 

 the rushes burn longer : mutton-suet would have the same 

 effect. 



A good rush, which measured in length two feet four 

 inches and an half, being minuted, burnt only three minutes 

 short of an hour : and a rush still of greater length has been 

 known to bum one hour and a quarter. 



These rushes give a good clear light. Watch-lights (coated 

 with tallow,) it is true, shed a dismal one, " darkness visible;" 

 but then the wicks of those have two ribs of the rind, or peel, 

 to support the pith, while the wick of the dipped rush has 

 but one. The two ribs are intended to impede the progress of 

 the flame, and make the candle last. 



In a pound of dry rushes, avoirdupois, which 1 caused to be 

 weighed and numbered, we found upwards of one thousand 

 six hundred individuals. Now suppose each of these burns, 

 one with another, only half an hour, then a poor man will 

 purchase eight hundred hours of light, a time exceeding 

 thirty-three entire days, for three shillings. According to 

 this account each rush, before dipping, costs $ of a farthing, 

 and ^ afterwards. Thus a poor family will enjoy 5^ hours 



