Bristles, the strong hairs growing on the back of the hog and wild-boar, and extensively used in the manufacture of brushes, and also by shoemakers and saddlers. They form an important article of British import, between two and three million pounds being annually imported, chiefly from Russia and Germany; but they are also obtained from France and Belgium, and large quantities of inferior quality have recently been received from China. From Russia, including Siberia, the average annual quantity of bristles imported into Britain is declining of late years. In 1886 it was nearly 907,000 lb., valued at £139,315. Russian bristles vary in value from £8 to £60 per cwt. Rather more bristles now come from Germany, but none of these are so valuable as the best qualities from Russia. They vary from £12 to £40 per cwt. From France fully 100,000 lb. are annually received, and smaller quantities are got from Denmark, Holland, and
Belgium. The supplies from the United States and East India have risen into importance within the last few years. The quality of bristles depends on the length, stiffness, colour, and straightness—white being the most valuable. The best bristles are produced by hogs that inhabit cold countries. The Russian hog is a long, spare animal, and the thinner the hog, the longer and stiffer the bristles. When it is sent to the south and fattened, the bristles become soft, and of course depreciated in value. In the summer the hogs are driven in herds through the forests, to feed on soft roots, &c., when they shed their bristles by rubbing themselves against the trees. The bristles are then collected, sewed up in horse or ox hides, and sent to fairs, whence they find their way, through agents, to all countries. The value of bristles has increased by one-half since 1858. See BRUSHES.