OF SELBORNE. 
219 
enjoy five hours and a half of comfortable light for a far- 
thing. An experienced old housekeeper assures me that 
one pound and a half of rushes completely supplies his 
family the year rcund; since working people burn no 
candle in the long days, because they rise an^ 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 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 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 no where else ; that is, little neat besoms 
which our foresters make from the stalks of the Polytrichum 
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 chestnut colour ; and, being 
soft and pliant, is very proper for the dusting of beds, 
curtains, carpets, hangings, &c. If those besoms were 
known to the brush-makers in town, it is probable they 
might come much in use for the purpose above mentioned.^ 
^ A besom of this sort is to be seen ia Sii* Ashton Lever s 
Museum.— G. W. 
This Museum, to which aUusion has been already made, was disposed 
of by auction in 1806. bee p. 8, footnote. — Ed. 
