HAHDLING HAY AND COfUST FODDER. 131 



slightly downward to prevent rolling, are the roof sup- 

 ports. They are put into a set of low holes on the out- 

 sides of the posts, and two straight oak rails, sixteen to 

 twenty inches longer than the space between the posts, 

 are laid upon them. Then across the ends of these, and 

 outside the posts, two similar rails are laid, the ends 

 being temporarily bound together at the corners^ These 

 form the plates for the roof. One- third pitch is usually 

 given, and the ends extend ten inches, or a foot, beyond 

 the plates. A good coat of paint will make the roof 

 quite durable, and prevent the boards from warping. To 

 make a thatched roof, figure 156, nice, straight, light 

 hoop poles are selected, which, if too heavy, must be 

 split. These are for rafters. If binding poles are used, 

 they must be mere rods, like light whip stocks. The 

 rafter poles are laid up and bound at the ends, and to the 

 cross-poles with tarred rope-yarn, but nailed to the plates. 

 They are placed about eighteen inches apart, but the light 

 split cross poles, about a foot to fourteen inches apart. 

 The straw is laid on in handf uls, beginning at the eaves, 

 and bound with rope yarn to the cross poles, or in courses, 

 and bound down by tying the tough, slender maple rods, 

 to the cross poles. Of course, the straw is kept even, 

 and in courses, butts outward, and trimmed evenly with 

 shears. When laid, the straw must be well evened at 

 the butts, and dampened so as to pack nicely and not 

 break in handling. These covers should be as light as 

 possible, and be consistent with strength. They are 

 raised and lowered one corner at a time, which may 

 usually be done by one man, though more conveniently 

 by two. To raise the roof, a ladder of suitable length is 

 set under the lower plate pole of one corner, as shown in 

 figure 157, the end of the pole being allowed to pass 

 through between the rounds of the ladder, which is then 

 lifted either by main strength, or by a rail used as a lever, 

 and held in position until some one going up another 



