468 



Thatching. 



must be pared or trimmed off. This is done by means of the 

 paring knife, the sheep shears being subsequently used in 

 order to trim off any rough edges and projecting straws, and 

 to impart a smart finished appearance to the stack. The 

 greatest importance is attached to the trimming off of the 

 eaves : if this is done well, the under-surface of the eave will 

 present a horizontal or even a slightly rising appearance, and 

 the water will consequently shoot clear of the stack ; but if 

 the shears are used incorrectly, and the eave appears sloping 

 downwards, water will surely find its way into the stack. 



Labour and Expense. — Working single-handed, a man 

 should complete five " squares" in a day of ten to ten and a 

 half hours. With two men working, this amount would be 

 doubled. A "square " represents a hundred square feet. The 

 usual cost of thatching a square amounts to lid. or is., while 

 for straw ricks this amount may not be more than gd. Hazel 

 rods may be purchased for $s. per 100, with 25 rods in a 

 bundle, and two bundles will generally be found sufficient 

 to complete the thatching of ten "squares." 



Thatching of Dwelling-Houses, &c. 



A thatched roof has a picturesque appearance, which is by 

 many preferred to the grey slate or red tiles which top the 

 modern country cottage, while this method of making roofs 

 watertight is adopted to a considerable extent in the case of 

 summer houses, pavilions, arbours, &c. Different localities 

 have different methods of thatching, but the following may be 

 taken as most suitable for general practice. 



Preparation of Straw— Straw is the most usual medium 

 for thatching houses, and it is employed in one of two 

 methods — firstly, by laying a covering of fibrous turf over 

 the roof and pushing the straw through the turves; or, 

 secondly, by sewing the straw directly to the roof. 



The material must in all cases be prepared beforehand, 

 this work affording a very suitable occupation to be carried on 

 during wet weather under cover. The straw is simply drawn 

 from the heap in the manner which is described above, the 

 only exception being that more care is exercised to exclude all 

 short ends or pieces of straw, so that, when properly pre- 

 pared, it will be perfectly straight. 



