Figure 51.—Pinning thatch sheets of sugar cane leaf:

a, with the sheath distal and the leaf midrib to the right, the blade is seized about 6 inches below the sheath junction, or ligule, and the sides pressed together so that the leaf is doubled longitudinally. The sheath end (i) is passed under the rod (2). b, The left hand holds leaf blade and rod together while the right hand doubles the sheath end down over the rod with a twist to the right; c, a strip of leaf (3) is doubled horizontally around the end of the rod and encloses the first leaf (1) against the sides of the rod; d, the second leaf (4) is placed against the rod to the right of the first, but the blade naturally is behind the sheath part of the first leaf; e, the blade of the second leaf (4) is lifted up on the right to clear the obstructing sheath (1) and then twisted to the left over it; f, the sheath of the second leaf is then doubled down over the rod (note that the second leaf has passed around the fixation strip (3) and in turn fixes it against the rod); the midrib pin (5) butt end first, is passed along from left to right a little below the rod and, parallel with it, passes in front of the first part of the first blade and behind its doubled-down part. Before it reaches the leaf midrib it is pushed through from the back. As the first part of the second leaf is in front, the pin naturally passes along behind it. It passes behind the second part of the second leaf (4) and is pushed through from the back before it reaches the leaf midrib. The right hand guides the point of the pin from the back. The succeeding leaves are added similarly. They continue on the bare rod after passing the ends of the fixation strip. The fixation strip having been fixed itself to the rod, encloses the first strip in a loop and prevents it working out to the left over the end of the rod. Owing to the twist of the two parts of the leaves, those on the right can not slip past the first leaf. The fixation technique is simple, but very important. g, The rods range in length from 3 feet upwards. At the right end the last leaf must be prevented from slipping over the end. The leaf (6) has been fixed to the bare rod (2). The last leaf (12) is then doubled over the right end of the rod. A fixation strip (3) is doubled around the end of the rod to enclose the last leaf. The leaves (7) and (8) are then added, and by passing around the fixation strip (3) fix it in position. Leaves are added until the gap indicated by the arrow head is filled in. The last leaf (12) is thus effectively anchored in position and in turn prevents the others from slipping" off. (Note the pin 5.) Fresh pieces of midrib are used as the others run short. The sheath ends of the leaves are pushed back to the surface away from the worker. This rougher surface forms the outer surface of the sheet.