Page:Village life in Korea (1911).djvu/151

Rh er plowing in these fields when the ox was in water and mud up to his knees.

There is much level land lying between the mountains, and this is very fertile. Though many of these fields have doubtless been producing annually their crop of rice since before the night that the angels sang together over the hills of Bethlehem, they are still fertile and produce an abundance to repay our faithful farmer for his toil. Of course our farmer attends to the fertilization of his fields. Everything about the house and stable that can be used for fertilizer is saved and put to the best possible use. The very hills and mountains are forced to make their annual contribution to the fields below. The hills are covered with small bushes and grass. Just as the leaves on these bushes are about grown, men and boys by the thousands go out and cut them, tender branches and all, and carry them to the fields, where they are spread out and tramped into the mud. When leaves are not easily obtained, grass is used instead. Thus our village farmer gives back to his field every year something in return for what he receives.

As soon as frost is out of the ground in the spring the farmers get busy preparing the paddies. All the embankments must be overhauled and put in first-rate condition, so they will hold the water. Then the fields are plowed and the fertilizer put in, as above stated. The plowing is done with oxen or cows, of which there are many and of a very fine quality. Our village farmer thinks much of his ox and cow, both of which are used alike on the farm for plowing the