THATCHING ON THE FAEM 



317 



Eaves guttering, consisting of a wooden trough bracketed from the wall, is 

 often used to catch the drip from the thatch, the eaves being trimmed horizontally 

 with shears at completion. 



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Fig. 219. 



Practice in South Africa.— Tambookie grass ranks high as a suitable 

 thatching material in South Africa, being tough aud lasting. Grass that is to 

 be used for thatching should be cut before it becomes over ripe and dry, say 

 at about the same stage as that at which the hay is usually cut. Reeds are 

 also used extensively, especially for under-thatching, and rye straw can be 

 employed. 



The thatching-grass is made up in bundles of a size in accordance with the 



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thickness of thatch covering to be laid. A common size is such as can be ringed 

 by the fingers and thumbs of both hands placed tip to tip ; in this country 

 thatch is generally laid from 4 to 6 inchee thick only. Each bundle is combed 



