RUSCUS. See BUTCHERS' BROOM.
RUSH, .Tuncus, a genus of plants of the natural order juncem, having a glume-like (not colored) perianth, smooth filaments, and a many-seeded, generally 3-celled capsule. The species are numerous, mostly natives of wet or marshy places iu the colder parts of the world; some are found in tropical regions. Some are absolutely destitute of leaves, but have barren scapes (flower-stems) resembling leaves; some have leafy stems, the leaves rounded or somewhat compressed, and usually jointed internally; some have plane or grooved leaves on the stems; some have very narrow leaves, all from the root. The name rush perhaps properly belongs to those species which have no proper leaves; the round stems of which, healing or not bearing small lateral heads of flowers, and popularly known as rushes, are used for plaiting into mats, chair-bottoms, toy baskets, etc. The SOFT Rust' (J. ekosus) is a native of Japan, as well as of Britain, and is culti vated in Japan for making mats. In ruder times, when carpets were little known, rushes were much used for covering the floors of rooms; to which many allusions will be found in early English writers. The stems of the true rushes contain a large pith, or
soft central substance, which is sometimes used for wicks of candles. There are 20 or 22' British species of rush, some of which are very rare, some found only on the highest mountains, but some are among the most common of plants. They are often very troublesome weeds to the farmer. Thorough drainage is the best means of getting quit of them. Lime, dry ashes, road scrapings, etc., are also useful. Tufts of rushes in pasture are a SUM sign of insufficient drainage. Many marshy and boggy places abound m some of the species having leafy stems and the leaves jointed internally, popularly called sprats or sprits, as J. acute:floras, J. lamprocarpus, and J. obtusifforus. They afford very little nourishment to cattle; but are useful for making coarse ropes for ricks, etc., which are stronger than those made of hay.