The Bussu-palm (Manicaria saccifera) is a South American palm found in the swamps of the Amazon, whose stem is only three to four meters, but whose leaves are often nine metres by one and a half metres in breadth. These are used by the Indians for thatch, the spathes are used as bags, or when cut longitudinally and stretched out they form a coarse but strong kind of cloth. Research Bussu-Palm
Flag is a popular name for many endogenous plants with sword-shaped leaves, mostly growing in moist situations; but sometimes particularly appropriated to Iris Pseudacorus, of the natural order Iridaceae; also termed Flower de lis or Flower de luce. It has sword-shaped leaves and yellow flowers, grows in marshy places and by the sides of streams and lakes. The stout creeping root-stock has been recommended for alleviating the toothache, and was used for dyeing black in the Hebrides. The leaves make excellent thatch, and were also employed for making bottoms to chairs. Research Flag
The gebang palm (Corypha gebanga) is a fan-leaved palm of south east Asia. Sago is extracted from its pith and its leaves are used for thatch, hats, baskets and bags. The root is used in medicine and the fibres of the leaf stalks are used for making ropes, nets and cloth. Research Gebang Palm
Hair-grass (Aira) is a genus of grasses belonging to that division of the order in which the spikelets have two or more florets, and the inflorescence is a loose panicle. It is of little use for cattle, which dislike it, but may serve where covert is wanted for game. Aira coespitosa, or tufted hair-grass, the windiestrae of the Scotch, was formerly used as thatch for ricks, and in some places for making mats. Research Hair-Grass
Sparrow is a popular name for a genus of finches, of which the best known is the house sparrow (Passer domesticus). The house sparrow is a small, black-streaked brown finch found across the world, though once very common during the later part of the 20th century the sparrows declined rapidly for reasons unknown.
The house sparrow builds a bulky, untidy nest of whatever materials are available, such as hay, straw, roots, rag, string, bits of paper, but it is always lined with soft feathers. The eggs are white in colour with a blue or green tinge and variously streaked or spotted with brown or purple. The house sparrow eats insects. House sparrows have been seen carrying a young offspring on their back, though this behaviour is very rarely witnessed, and the reason for it is unknown.
The tree sparrow (Passer montanus) is slightly smaller than the house sparrow, has brown plumage and a white collar around the throat and two white bars on the tail. The tree sparrow nests in hollow trees, under the thatch of old buildings and in holes in rocks. Research Sparrow
The Cahokia Mounds are a group of very large prehistoric Indian earthworks in south west Illinois, consisting of mounds with flat tops that supported temples and other structures of mud and thatch. Research Cahokia Mounds
Thatching is a method of roofing used to protect buildings and bricks. The material most commonly used is straw, but bracken, gorse, heather and reeds may serve a similar purpose. Of the straws the best for thatching purposes are those of wheat and rye. Oat and barley straw being softer in texture are liable to absorb water. Reeds, however, are superior as a thatch to any straw. A reedthatch, properly made, will last for fifty years without the need for repair, while a straw thatch will last about thirty years. Heather thatching will last a hundred years, but is much heavier than straw or reeds, and as such can only be used on stronger roofs.
The thatcher's equipment consists of a bill-hook, a paring knife, a large forked stick to contain the drawn straw, and a wooden rake with iron teeth. The thatcher also requires a supply of tarred cord and wooden pegs of split hazel or willow. The straw to be used for thatching is first well moistened, then the heap is turned with a fork and afterwards lightly trodden to firm it. The thatcher draws his straw from the bottom of the heap, taking it by the double handfuls. The drawn straws are usually called yealms, and this work of drawing was traditionally done by the assistant or server. The straw being made into a bundle in which the individual straws lie fairly straight, the thatcher puts the bundle in place. Thatching begins at the bottom of the roof closest to the eaves and continues upwards, each successive course being secured with pegs and twine. In southern England split hazel pegs were traditionally used in place of twine. Upon reaching the top, the straw is laid well up to form a point, and give a good pitch. Often it is necessary to use bundles of tightly-tied straw to bolster up the ridge. Research Thatching
Vernacular architecture describes buildings made of local materials in response to local needs, generally of unknown authorship and following traditional patterns, with minimal reference to the styles prevailing in the mainstream of architectural development.
Typical materials of vernacular architecture include timber, thatch, wattle and daub, flint, and certain types of stone. Wood has been especially important in vernacular architecture as it was once such a widely available material. It has been much employed in timber-framing. Oak was the type most commonly used in Britain, while various soft woods have been used in Europe and America. The distinction between vernacular 'building' and mainstream 'architecture' appeared only after the Renaissance, with the rise of the profession of architect. In the late 19th century, however, vernacular styles influenced the work of architects such as Sir Edwin Lutyens. Research Vernacular Architecture
Abbreviations
Research Bussu-Palm
