PRACTICAL BOOK OF GARDEN ARCHITECTURE 



For a summer-house, a tea room, or a crow's- 

 nest, a thatched roof laid directly on the rafters 

 without a solid board foundation will be most pleas- 

 ing, as the effect of the thatch will be seen from be- 

 neath the roof, forming the ceiling of the room. For 

 the quaint carriage house, garage or chicken house, 

 with low-drooping eaves and gables, a board foun- 

 dation will carry a more durable roof. For covering 

 any sort of roof that requires repairing, whether of 

 old shingles, the rubberoids or other patent roof 

 coverings, a heavy thatching of straw will quickly 

 put it in rainproof condition, and serve the double 

 purpose of making the garden building extremely 

 decorative as well as durable. It is important, how- 

 ever, to apply the thatch to the old roof only when it 

 has a sufficient pitch. It will not do for a very flat 

 roof. Any sort of thatched roof should have a pitch 

 of at least four or five inches to the foot. 



A practical knowledge of this old-world handi- 

 craft is desirable for the best results in thatching. 

 The main points in preparation and the laying of 

 the straw are easily understood. Then practice will 

 soon give a very satisfactory degree of perfection. 



A home-made mallet, with a broad, firm pounding 

 surface should have its handle so adjusted that it 

 can be used to best advantage when crouching or 

 kneeling over the roof. A good grade of marlin or 



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