THE QUAINT AND DURABLE THATCHED ROOF 



as decorative. On the small square buildings, and 

 those which are slightly oblong in form, as well as 

 those that are circular or octagon-shaped, the thatch 

 is most securely finished when brought to a peak in 

 the centre. The upper courses of straw are grad- 

 ually made shorter and all brought toward the cen- 

 tral point, where they finally meet and are tied about 

 a stake that is fastened firmly to the centre of the 

 roof. The straw is made especially thick, close and 

 rain-shedding at the stake ; then bands of straw axe 

 twisted horizontally round and round the vertical 

 layers. Eope is frequently used in place of straw, 

 to give the final tight finish at the apex. Another 

 novel method of completing the roof of the decorative 

 tea room is to have the central stake extend for some 

 distance above the roof, and after the thatch is made 

 waterproof about the stake, other wooden supports 

 are fastened to it, holding aloft a bird box, that 

 provides a charmingly decorative ridge or peak, 

 while attracting the birds to a spot rich in nes-t- 

 building material. 



For the ridge extending the entire length of a 

 long building, lengthwise rolls of straw are pressed 

 compactly down, and roped into place, forming a 

 rounded ridge. Another plan is easily carried out 

 by using plain boards, eight or ten inches wide, on 

 each side of the roof peak, the entire length of the 



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