THE QUAINT AND DURABLE THATCHED ROOF 



conflagration as a thatch, of loose, light straw. When 

 thatch-roofed buildings are situated near the house 

 they may be considered objectionable as fire- 

 breeders. It is very seldom, however, that they 

 prove dangerous. The straw soon becomes closely 

 matted, and does not attract sparks more readily than 

 the usual forms of roofing. But in order to take 

 extra precautions, and give a feeling of perfect 

 safety, many expert thatchers sprinkle the damp 

 straw with cobalt water the day before using it. This 

 is prepared by making a strong solution of cobalt 

 acetate, using one pound to about one and a half 

 or two gallons of water. The damp straw is thor- 

 oughly sprayed with this solution. "With a thatch 

 thus treated it is claimed to be practically fire-proof, 

 so far as flying sparks are concerned. But the dan- 

 ger of fire is no greater for a thatch roof in its nat- 

 ural condition, when well packed down, than it is 

 for the average patent roofings or dry shingles. 



A thin coat of hot, melted paraffine, quickly ap- 

 plied with a wide brush to the smooth, rake-combed 

 thatch, is sometimes recommended to insure rain- 

 proof quality. But this precaution, like the various 

 fire preventives, will seldom prove necessary. A 

 neat, uniform covering of well-laid thatch, squarely 

 trimmed at the eaves and quaintly finished at the 

 ridge, will produce the best example of this old- 

 world handicraft. 



