1 909-] 



Thatching. 



467 



horizontal direction, not vertically; in the latter case they 

 easily convey water into the interior of the stack, which, of 

 course, has a decidedly injurious effect. When laying the 

 yealms alternately, one overlapping the other, the expert 

 thatcher will keep them damp by sprinkling with water, 

 meanwhile combing the straw with a thatcher's rake to make 

 it He perfectly even; he will then beat it down lightly but 

 firmly so as to consolidate the whole roof into a regular 

 thatch of uniform thickness throughout. 



A medium coating of straw well laid invariably resists 

 water much better than a larger quantity of straw badly 

 placed together. When thatching hipped-end stacks, it is 

 customary to commence about the centre of one side in 

 order to ensure a good finish ; gable-end stacks are usually 

 commenced at one end. The width of stack capable of being 

 covered without moving the ladder will depend on the 

 thatcher's reach, but this must not be exceeded beyond com- 

 fort, for when the thatch has to be packed in at arm's length 

 it can never be done so firmly and securely as when a shorter 

 stretch is taken. 



Pegging and Cording. — To keep the thatch in position, 

 pegs made of split hazel, willow, oak, or other tough wood 

 are used. These should be cut into lengths of from two to 

 three feet, with the ends pointed. Any knots must be shaved 

 off so that the pegs may be pushed easily into the stack. 

 Split hazel rods are often made to take the place of cord 

 between pegs, an arrangement which certainly has a very 

 ornamental appearance ; for general purposes, however, 

 oakum or binding cord is used. As the work of laying the 

 yealms proceeds the pegs should be inserted in a horizontal 

 direction as before mentioned, and the cord secured thereto. 

 The elaborate roping or cording of ricks is not practised so 

 extensively at the present day as it was some years ago ; few 

 farmers keep their grain in the ricks for more than two years, 

 while with the majority, under twelve months is the usual time. 

 If thatching is done with good, well-drawn wheat straw 7 , well 

 packed upon the roof of the rick, there should be no need for 

 the elaborate methods of pegging so frequently seen in some 

 districts. 



Trimming the Eaves. — The overhanging eaves of the stack 



