2 jo The Natural History of Se I borne 



A good rush, which measured in length two feet four 

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

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

 known to burn 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 wick 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 I 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 -fa of a farthing, 

 and yL afterwards. Thus a poor family will enjoy five and a 

 half hours of comfortable light for a farthing. An experienced 

 old housekeeper assures me that one pound and a half of 

 rushes completely supplies his family the year round, since 

 working people burn no candles in the long days, because 

 they rise and go to bed by daylight. 



Xiittle farmers use rushes much in the short days both 

 morning and evening, in the dairy and kitchen ; but the very 

 poor, who are always the worst economists, and therefore 

 must continue very poor, buy a halfpenny candle every even- 

 ing, which in their blowing open rooms, does not burn much 

 more than two hours. Thus they have only two hours' light 

 for their money instead of eleven. 



While on the subject of rural economy, it may not be im- 

 proper to mention a pretty implement of housewifery that we 

 have seen nowhere else ; that is, little neat besoms which our 

 foresters make from the stalks of the polytricum commune^ or 

 great golden maiden hair, which they call silk-wood, and find 

 plenty in the bogs. When this moss is well combed and 

 dressed, and divested of its outer skin, it becomes of a 



