198 
NATURAL HISTORY 
find it no eafy matter to diveft a rufli of it's peel or rind, fo as to 
leave one regular, narrow, even rib from top to bottom that may 
fupport the pith : but this, like other feats, foon becomes familiar 
even to children ; and we have feen an old woman, ftone-blind, 
performing this bufmefs with great difpatch, and feldom failing 
to flrip them with the niceft legularity. When thefe junci are 
thus far prepared, they mufl lie out on the grafs to be bleached, 
and take the dew for fome nights, and afterwards be dried in the 
fun. 
Some addrefs is required in dipping thefe rufhes in the fcalding 
fat or greafe ; but this knack alfo is to be attained by pradlice. 
The careful wife of an induftrious Hampjlnre labourer obtains all 
her fat for nothing ; for Ihe faves the fcummings of her bacon-pot 
for this ufe ; and, if the greafe abounds with fait, Ihe caufes the 
fait to precipitate to the bottom, by fetting the fcummings in a warm 
oven. Where hogs are not much in ufe, and efpecially by the 
fea-fide, the coarfer animal-oils will come very cheap. A pound 
of common greafe may be procured for foiir pence ; and about fix 
pounds of greafe will dip a pound of rufiies ; and one pound of 
ruflies may be bought for one fliilling : fo that a pound of ruflies, 
medicated and ready for ufe, will coft three fliillings. If men that 
keep bees will mix a little wax with the greafe, it will give it 
a confiftency, and render it more cleanly, and make the ruflies 
burn longer : mutton-fuet would have the fame efted:. 
A good rufli, which meafured in length two feet four inches 
and an half, being minuted, burnt only three minutes Ihort of 
an hour : and a rufli flill of greater length has been known to 
burn one hour and a quarter. 
Thefe rufhes give a good clear light. Watch-lights (coated 
ivith tallow), it is true, flied a difmal one, darknefs vilible but 
. • then 
