How To Learn Thatching

A thorough knowledge of thatching, like that of any other branch of farm husbandry, cannot be gained without careful observation and frequent practice, but the beginner can commence by thatching straw ricks or potato clamps and thus acquire the skill necessary for the more important work of thatching corn and hay ricks.

Outfit And Materials

The thatcher's outfit is neither a large nor an expensive one ; it consists of a bill-hook, a paring knife, and a pair of sheep shears for trimming the eaves, a large " thatching fork " to hold the drawn straw or " yealms," and a wooden hand-rake with iron teeth.

Other articles necessary for thatching are a ladder sufficiently long to reach the ridge of the stack when laid perfectly level with the roof, a quantity of pegs, binding cord or oakum, a suitable wooden mallet or other implement to drive in the pegs (a flat leather attached to the wrist, and covering the palm when pressing the pegs home, serves the same purpose), and a running noose to carry the yealms of straw to the thatcher.

The principal materials used for thatching purposes are straw, reeds, and heather, according to the purpose for which they are intended. Oat and barley straw are only serviceable where the corn to be covered has not to remain in the rick for any considerable length or time, or where, as in Scotland, the stacks are small and so built as to be practically weatherproof without much thatch ; well-grown stiff wheat straw will answer all general purposes on the farm, but for more lasting purposes, rye straw and reeds (Arundo Phray-mites) are to be preferred, heather being mostly used for ornamental thatching-as, for example, model dairies, cricket pavilions, and summer houses.

Preparation Of The Straw

The preparation of the straw is of importance. Straw of a dry, loose character cannot be packed so rightly and securely as damp straw ; for this reason the straw should be well douched with water and turned over with a fork until it becomes thoroughly moistened. The heap must then be slightly compressed by beating with the fork or treading. This has the effect of ridding the straw of flag and shack, the presence of which tends to arrest the flow of water. Straw of the current year's crop is usually more serviceable than the older straw.