Page:Willich, A. F. M. - The Domestic Encyclopædia (Vol. 4, 1802).djvu/24

4&#93; 4] RUS HEADED, or ClUSTFR-FLOWFRED Rush, giows in moist meadows and heaths, where it flowers in the month of July or August. It is employed by the lower classes to form Tush-lighls, for which pur- pose it is peeled in autumn on three sides, and dipped in melted tallow. The soil producing this plant, ge- nerally contains a stratum oi peat. 3. Ther/?//itt5, CoMMoxorSoFT Rush, or Skaves, thrives in wet meadows and pastures ; flowers from June to August. — It is eaten by horses and goats ; is also used for rush-lights, like the preceding species ; and sometinus manufac- tured into slight baskets. — ^Tlie common rush is cut about jVIid- svuiimer, in the vicinity of Farn- ham, and dried in the same man- ner as hay ; after which it is form- ed into a kind of vioic, and shel- tered till the succeeding spring, ■when, on account of its toughness, it is usefully employed for bands, or ties, in fastening hops to the poles. — In a fresh state, it is farther convened into brooms, or besoms, fqr blacksmiths, and other artisans uorking in metals. All the species of Rush grow in ■wet situations, and have therefore been sown on the banks of canals, in order to consolidate the earth. But, as they frequently abound on lands, that would otlierwLse be pro- dudive, different means have been adopted, with a view^ to extirpate them. This purpose has been at- tained by ploughing otie furrow, and harrowing in a considerable quantity of dung ; after which a crop of oats is taken. Another method consists in pulling them out by the roots in July, and expos- ing them for two or three weeks, tiU tolerably dry. They are then fraduailjr btirnt, and their ashes RUS spread on the land, thus affording an excellent manure.^But, in order to prevent their future growth, th« ground ought to be drained ; and, ifanv rushes appear, they must be annually eradicated, and- the soil properly rolled. RUSH, the Flowering, or Watf.r Gladiole, Butomits urn- leflatus, L. a native perennial plant, growing in slow streams and muddy ditches ; flowering in the month of June or July. — ^This beautiful herb is a great ornament to the banks of our rivers and marshy ditches : it is refused by every species of cattle. From its strong leaves, the Dutch manu- fadure a kind of carpets and ta- pestry that are highly prized ; and BoHMER observes, that they may also be converted into baskets, for packing fruit and other commo- dities. RUSH, the Hare's-tail, or Singi.e-headed Cotton-grass, Erhpliorum vag'tvatum, L, a pe- rennial plant, found in marshy heaths, o bogs and moors ; prin- cipally in the northern counties of Britain. — The wh.ole plant, previ- onsly to its flowering in June, i% eaten with great avidity by sheep ; and it is asserted by shepherds, that-' these animnls will, after being re-^ duced by hunger, recover more speedily, and thrive much better on the hare's-tail rush, than on tur- nips. In a ripe state, however, it is chiefly used for rush-lights : the wt)ol, or down growing on this plant, though short and brittle, njay be applied to similar purposes with those of the Cotton-crass. RUSH-GRASS, the Prickxy, or Lokg-rooted, Schcenus Ma- r'lscus, L. a native plant, which grows in marshes, p>onds, and bogs, where it flowers hi th<? months