called grounding-brushes, and are useful for covering large spaces, wither in ground-laying, tinting, or painting. (Cut No. 12.)
For applying delicate tints of color, a tinting-brush should be employed. (Cut No. 13.) These are very thin, flat brushes, and work very smoothly. Being thin, they do not absorb or retain any more color than is required, and are to be recommended for this purpose beyond all other brushes. They come in a half a dozen sizes or widths, with metal ferrules and polished wooden handles. They are made of Russia sable, and are delightful to use.
A similar brush is an elastic tinting-brush, and is desirable as being just one-half the price of a Russia sable brush. These elastic brushes are really very good, and quite satisfactory for tinting ; and if they have not so much spring as the Russia sable, have quite enough for the purpose for which they are made and required.
The spring or elasticity of a brush is a test of its quality. A good brush, when we with color and pressed on the object or material to receive the color, will spring back and resume its normal condition immediately upon being removed. Bad brushes remain at the angle at which they are used.
While giving these suggestive hints regarding brushes, their use is by no means compulsory. Some always prefer a Short brush to a long one,
