PRACTICAL BOOK OF GARDEN ARCHITECTURE 



gives a curious appearance of thatching, and proves 

 quite durable if the needles are well coated with the 

 tar or paint when applied. 



The heather-covered roofs of Holland and Eng- 

 land, and the floral roofs of Japan, with red lilies 

 and blue and white irises blooming along the ridges 

 of the sombre-colored thatch, may also be imitated 

 in our garden buildings. The objection may be raised 

 that the flower-decorated roof is apt to give the 

 appearance of age and decay, and is therefore unde- 

 sirable. On the other hand, the appearance of age 

 may be considered a commendable quality. Many of 

 the ancient thatched roofs of Japan, and those found 

 in old village gardens of England, have become so 

 filled with dust that they are well matted down, have 

 assumed a dark color, and show extensive patches of 

 mossy growth. Birds carry seeds that fall into the 

 soil crevices of the thatch, until blooming plants 

 and luxuriant mosses flourish over the entire roof 

 surface. Like many other spurious imitations of 

 antiquity, this effect readily may be imitated in 

 completing the decorative thatch-covered garden 

 buildings. 



An argument in favor of the flower and moss- 

 covered thatch is that roofs so decorated are less 

 liable to be subject to danger of fire from flying 

 sparks. The close-matted straw, with its layer of 

 green, low growths, will not so readily fall a prey to 



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