142 



NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE. 



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 economists, and therefore 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 have they only two 

 hours light for their money instead of eleven. 



While on the subject of 'rural economy, 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-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 beautiful bright-chesnut ' 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, f 



I am, &c. 



* Or in Scotland, lin<j, where it is commonly used for besoms, making an 

 excellent implement ; also plaited into door-mats for the feet. 

 t A besom of this sort is to be seen in Sir Ashton Lever's Museum. 





KUSH-HOLDER. 



