470 Imports of Grain in the Cereal Year, [sept., 



may be utilised. In the latter case, the boards should be 

 cut to the same length as the roof and fixed in the fashion 

 of a triangle, overlapping the thatch for some distance on 

 each side. This method of thatching is perhaps most ex- 

 tensively practised, as it is often impossible to obtain good,- 

 firm, fibrous turf. 



Thatching with Heather and Reeds. — In certain districts 

 heather is used extensively in the thatching of dwelling- 

 houses, and particularly rustic summer houses, and similar 

 buildings. This material is, of course, not always procurable 

 in abundant quantities, but in the north and central counties 

 of Scotland it forms the staple medium for thatching pur- 

 poses. When carefully cut, heather will require but little 

 preparation beyond straightening out. The roof is prepared 

 as in the case of straw thatching (second method), and the 

 heather sewn fairly tightly and closely together. This makes 

 an excellent and very durable roof. Rushes, where they are 

 procurable, are also a most valuable material for thatching 

 purposes. They are used in a similar manner to straw, being 

 either sewn direct to the roof or inserted through turves. 

 Broom is used extensively in other districts in a similar 

 manner to heather thatching. 



Cost of Thatching. — The cost of labour for thatching dwell- 

 ing-houses, &c, generally amounts to 4s. 6d. per "square," 

 or hundred square feet, while reeds cost as much as 55. per 

 square. On the roof of a dwelling-house, ten bundles, or 

 5 cwt., of straw will be required to each square of thatch, 

 and one hundred of these bundles will cost approximately 

 105s. When thatching is carried out in a thoroughly expert 

 and experienced manner, the roof will remain quite water- 

 tight for about thirty years if composed of the finest quality 

 wheat straw, or for forty years if reeds are employed. If, 

 however, the work is done in an indifferent manner, it may 

 not last for more than ten years. 



IMPORTS OF GRAIN IN THE CEREAL YEAR 1908-9. 



The most important feature of the past cereal year (1st 

 Sept., 1908, to 31st Aug., 1909) has been the high price of 

 wheat, together with the good average prices obtained for 

 barley and oats. 



