The new South-news., 1907-10-12

found on American country seats
The construction OF this kiAd of ridge
Il very simple and elective: semi
cylindrical tiles are used for the
crest. and these In turn cap . row OF
similar tiles placed on either side OF
the ridge. The tiles are sometimes
bedded In q layer Of cement or NOR
tar lin Japan . layer Of clay or mud
and chopped straw Is used). which 10
frst piled onto the thatched roof. and
when laid in this the tiles are seldom
displaced.
In the best types Of thatching spe-
cial attention Is given to the proper
and symmetrical trimming of the
thatch at the caves and at the edges
of the gable: and there are very
clever ways In which this is managed.
Sometimes at the peak OF the gable
a cone-iike enlargement of a circular
depression Is curiously shaped out OF
the thatch and a good deal OF skin
is also shown in bringing the thick
edges Of the caves, which are on dif-
ferent levels, together In graceful
curves
In some OF the bark-walled sum-
mer houses a novel bark finish Is also
found in the roof thatchlng. The
ridge roof, which has a much sharper
incline than the roof proper. Is COW
cred with bark, this being bound
down by parallel strips; and spanning
the ridge at intervals are straw sad
dies. sheathed with bark. These are
very narrow at the ridge, but widen
at their extremities.
A strikingly decorative feature OF
some of the thatched roofs of Japan
should be more widely copied here;
this area is made to support luxuri-
Gus growth OF iris, or the red lily.
A most charming feature is often seen
in the appearance of a brown, SOM
bre-coiored village in Japan, where
all the ridges are aiame with the
bright red blossoms OF the lily. or
where the purer colors OF the blue
and white iris form floral crests OF
exceeding beauty. This is feature
that might be introduced with strik-
ingly picturesque effect for finishing
the decorative thatchcd roofs OF
American gardens.
Another style of roof. sometimes OF
circular form, has the thatch on the
slopes of the roof trimmed In such a
way as to present the appearance OF a
series OF thick layers, resting one
upon another like shingles, in some
instances from eighteen inches to
two feet apart, with thick edges.
Again the circular, evenly trimmed
layers are very close and regular. A
good example OF this style OF roof
finish is found on the Harrison estate,
at Glenwood Sunni and roofs OF
the close. thick. shi Like thatching
are also found I huare form on
some of tho deeor Re garden houses
OF nearby country Tseats.
1t is a matter OF surprise to the un-
| initiated to discover how long these
roofs will remain, In good condition
Even with our unskillcd thatching
| merely for garden decoration, 1t Is
claimed that a roof may be depended
upon to last from fifteen to twent.
years. with very little repairs; and II
is said that in Japan the best kind o
thatched roofs will endure for fft,
years As they get weather-wori
they are often patched and repaired
until they have to be entirely re
newed. In japan and in many OF tn
thstched roofs OF France and HOLLAND
the oldest roofs are the most decora
tive. as they become filed with dust
assume a dark color and get matte,
down. Plants. wssds and moses 0
various Kinds then grow upon them
as weil as masses Of gray lichen
which cover the entire roof slope
And where the effect OF antiquity
desired in the quaint forms or thatch
ing now popular among Pennsylyani
landscape gardeners this weather
worn, lichen-covered type might
readily initiated.
When properly constructed thes
: thatched roofs shed water yer
) promptly, and do not get waite
soaked. aud therefore prove service
, able as we'll as decorative Phil;
| delpnia Record.