LETTERS FROM GROWERS. 107 



"Each farm is a rectangular compound, one part 

 containing the buildings inclosed by walls, the rest by 

 hedges. The buildings, though built as usual of mud, 

 stones, earthenware, and untrimmed timbers, and 

 thatched, are strikingly superior to the other houses 

 of the Korean people. They are built in right lines, 

 interiors neatly arranged, and walks and hedges in 

 good order. In each compound are one or more tall 

 little watch towers, in which a regular lookout is held 

 over the farm to prevent raids of thieves, who might 

 make off with paying amounts in handfuls of ginseng. 



"Beyond the buildings, occupying the remaining 

 space in the compound, are parallel rows of low, dark 

 mat sheds, with roofs sloping downward toward the 

 south or southwest. These rows are from seventy-five 

 to two hundred feet long and four feet apart, and the 

 mat sheds about four feet high at their front (north) 

 sides, which are closed by mats which swing from the 

 top, thus giving access to the farmer in his care of the 

 plants. Within the sheds are beds about eight inches 

 high for the growing ginseng plants, which are in rows 

 extending across the beds, about two feet long. 



"The row (or shed) nearest the houses is the seed 

 bed for all the plants grown on the farm. ... In 

 the Korean ninth month (September-October) the 

 seeds are stuck quite thickly in the seed bed to a depth 

 of three inches in little watering trenches about three 

 inches apart. Once in each three days' interval during 

 its whole life the plant is watered, and the bed carefully 

 inspected to prevent crowding, decay, and the ravages 

 of worms and insects. The mat shed is kept closely 

 shut, for ginseng will only grow in the dark or a very 

 weak light. 



"The mats of the sheds are made of round, brown 

 reeds and vines closely stitched together, admitting 

 only the faintest light. 



"In the second month of the second vear after 



