170 WOOD AND GARDEN 



the thatch is all in place the whole is " drove," that is, 

 beaten up close with a wooden bat that strikes against 

 the ends of the chips and drives them up close, 

 jamming them tight into the fastening. After six 

 months of drying summer weather he came and drove 

 it all over again. 



Thatching is done by piece-work, and paid at so 

 much a " square " of ten by ten feet. When I asked 

 for his bill, the old man brought it made out on a 

 hazel stick, in a manner either traditional, or of his 

 own devising. This is how it runs, in notches about 

 half an inch long, and dots dug with the point of the 

 knife. It means, " To so much work done, £4, 5s. Od." 



IIXXXI', IIXXXXIIA 1IIIAXX,IIXX 



