Stránka:roll 1931.djvu/244

228 Woodcraft Birch Bark Roll them close together—that is, touching—from the rooftree to the walls, using the hatchet whenever necessary to make them set well. Put a big nail into each at the top end— that is, nail it to the rooftree—and one at the bottom, nailing it to the plate. Let the lower end project over the wall for eaves (C and D). Be sure that the outside rafter at each end is twice as thick as the others. Four of these thick ones or end rafters are needed. Now nail a gutter pole across all these rafters, but 6 inches beyond the walls on the over-hang. This may not touch all the rafters, but one good spike every 2 feet will hold it. It should be well fitted and nailed to the two big outside rafters. Now cover the whole roof with hay or marsh grass evenly to a depth of a foot. Then cover this hay or grass with good stiff clay to a depth of 3 inches all over, well tramped down and sprinkled with a little water if it is too dry to work well; under this the hay goes down to about one inch thick. The big poles at each side, with the gutter poles, act as a frame to hold the clay in its place. It is well here to sound a note of warning—do not put too much clay on the roof. It is quite possible to crush the timbers with the weight. Enough clay to run off the rain is all that is needed. If the rooftree seems to give, it may call for a post under it inside. Build up the chimney, keeping the flue undiminished, and carry the chimney up to a foot or more above the highest part of the roof. The window frames and door frames may be of I-inch stuff, but are better of 2-inch. They are now fitted into their openings, held there by one or two spikes and plenty of mor- tar. But it is easier to manage them by making them in advance and building them in where they belong as the wall goes up. . The floor is simply clay, leveled off and hammered smooth. The finishing of doors, windows, and beds is as in the Woodcraft cabin already described. | A eertain amount of plastering will be necessary to cover holes after the roof is on, especially at the gables. If the fireplace does not draw the smoke, lower the front by building in a thin wall carried on a stone or a green oak timber; or even follow exactly the lines of the fireplace in