196 
THE NATURAL HISTORY 
[LETT. 
but tlien 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 I caused to be 
weighed and numbered, we found upwards of one thousand six 
hundred individuals. N"ow 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 -^V of a farthing, and afterwards. Thus a 
poor family will enjoy 51 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 candle 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 im- 
proper to mention a pretty implement of housewifery that I 
have seen nowhere else ; that is, little neat besoms which our 
foresters make from the stalk of the Polytrimm 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 beauti- 
ful 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 brushmakers in town, it is 
probable they might come much more into use for the purpose 
above mentioned.^ 
Selborne, Nov. 1, 1776. 
^ A besom of this sort is to be seen in Sir Ashton Lever's Museum. 
