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 such erections as summer houses, pavilions, and arbours. Different methods of thatching are practised in different districts, but tie following may be taken as suitable for general purposes.

Preparation Of Straw

Straw is the most usual medium for thatching houses, and it is employed in one of two ways-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 rods or battens nailed to the rafters.

The material must in all cases be prepared beforehand; this work affording a very suitable occupation to be carried on under cover during wet weather. The straw is simply drawn from the heap in the manner described above, the only exception being that more care is exercised to exclude all short ends or pieces of straw, so that, when properly prepared, it will be perfectly straight.

Making The Staples

The yealm of straw is then gathered in the hands and a small quantity is pulled out at one end, turned down, and wound round the top of the yealm, forming what is known as a " staple." A split hazel rod is sometimes used for binding and pegging with the same effect. The projection thus formed at the head of the staple prevents it from being withdrawn once it has been inserted in the turves. When prepared in this manner, the staples are bound together a dozen at a time and stored in a dry place until required for use.

Preparation Of Roof For Thatch (First Method)

The timbering for a thatched roof may be considerably lighter than for a tile or slate covering-rafters spaced 2ft. apart are sufficient; they may also be rough and irregular without detriment. It is also well to remember that dormers at the eaves may be formed in a thatched roof without the extra expense for valleys and leadwork entailed in other roof coverings. The rafters are fixed in the usual manner, wooden runners or battens being nailed on at about six inches apart ; these runners are about 3 inches broad. The turves sometimes called " scraws" are placed upon the roof, working from the bottom and proceeding in an upward direction as with slates. When cutting the turves, a curved cutting-iron must be used, so as to obtain turves thick in the centre but gradually tapering off towards the sides. Thus, when laid on the roof, the overlapping edges will make the turf covering level, and the roof will be of one thickness throughout.

Laying The Staples

A thatching iron now becomes necessary. This implement is slightly forked at the apex in order to catch the twisted head of the staple of straw. In this manner the latter is pushed through the turf, and is prevented from coming out again by the " head " of wound straw. By the alternative method the hazel pegs are pushed into the turf in an upward direction so as not to conduct water through the roof. The work of laying the staples must be commenced at the eaves, and should proceed upwards until the ridge is reached ; at this point a layer of turves is placed over the straw in order to form a "bolster " or well-defined ridge, and the thatching is then complete.

Preparing The Poof For Thatching (Second Method)

When preparing the roof for the second method of thatching, namely, sewing the straw directly to the roof, the rafters arc laid, the light purlins or battens nailed on, and the straw prepared in the same way. The straw is then sewn directly to these battens, commencing at the bottom and working upwards to the ridge. Sewing twine is used for this purpose, and the work will be found quite a simple operation after a little practice has been obtained. Round rods are best as they cut the twine less and permit it to be pulled tighter. In order to finish off the ridge, a plaited straw ridge capping, independently made and pegged on, is most workmanlike, and gives the thatcher an opportunity to display his fancy in finials fashioned as birds or emblems ; or turves may here again be requisitioned as in the former method. As an alternative, two pieces of wood may be utilised. In the latter case, the boards should be cut to the same length as the roof and fixed so as to overlap the thatch for some distance on each side. This method of thatching is perhaps most extensively practised, as it is often impossible to obtain good, firm, fibrous turf. Pegging and lacing with split hazel rods at ridge, eaves, verges, and intermediately on big roofs, increases the security of the work (see page 383). The protection of eaves, verge, and ridge by a strip of Jin. mesh rabbit wire to exclude small birds is found to lengthen the life of straw thatching Thatching with Heather, Reeds and Broom.-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 purposes. 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. Reeds, where they are procurable, are the best and most durable of all materials for thatching purposes, and resist birds better than straw. 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.

Cost Of Thalching

The cost of labour for thatching dwelling-houses, etc., generally amounts to 9/- to 10/- per " square," or 100 square feet, while reed costs as much as 7/- to 10'- per square. On the roof of a dwelling-house, 10 bundles, or 5cwt., of straw will be required to each square of thatch, and 100 of these bundles will cost approximately £7 to £10 according to quality and demand. When thatching is carried out in a thoroughly expert and experienced manner, the roof should remain quite watertight for about 30 years if composed of the finest quality wheat straw, or for 40 years if reeds be employed. If, however, the work be done in an indifferent manner, it may not last for more than 10 years.