96 NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE 



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 

 y^ of a farthing, and ^ 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. 



Little 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 ceconomists, and there- 

 fore must continue very poor, buy a halfpenny candle 

 every evening, 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 oeconomy, it may not be 

 improper 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- 

 woody and find plenty in the bogs. 1 When this moss is well 

 combed and dressed, and divested of it's outer skin, it 

 becomes of a beautiful bright-chestnut colour ; and, being 

 soft and pliant, is very proper for the dusting of beds, 

 curtains, carpets, hangings, &c. If these besoms were known 

 to the brush-makers in town, it is probable they might come 

 much in use for the purpose above-mentioned. 2 



I am, &c. 



1 Or in Scotland, ling, where it is commonly used for besoms, making an 

 -excellent implement ; also plaited into door-mats for the feet. [W. J.] 



2 A besom of this sort is to be seen in Sir Ashton Lever's Museum. [G. W.] 



