Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1916-10-20

z T ARVESTING in Russia is one
of the great events in the peas
ants life Weeks before the
corn is ripe enough for cutting
the bailiff goes around the villages on
the estate and collects the extra hands
needed for the work. Reaping ma
chimes are now used all over the coun-
try, but as there are many small woods
and clumps of trees interspersed
among wheatf1elds in the South, one
often sees women with sickles finish
ing off difficult corners, says a writer
in Country Life. They make a pretty
picture in their bright dresses against
the high golden wheat, with the dark
woods in the background.
! Women predominant in agricultural
life in Russia and are great workers.
Their babies are kept in the village
! creches, and looked after by others
| till the mothers return at night. Some
times the mothers take them in the
fields. The women usually begin work
about 5 a. m. and go on till twelve
+ o'clock without stop, when the mid
! day meal is served. This is taken sit
ting on the ground. 1t generally con-
sists of thick potato soup, or perhaps
bOrstock (soup made with beetroots)
+ ''casha" Ga brown grain boiled in the
same way as rice), a raw herring,
and huge piece of black bread. Each
peasant carries her own wooden spoon
In her pocket, or tucked away in one Of
her high boots.
Water is served from a barrel, which
goes from field to field, drawn by a
donkey. The oxen are magnificent
creatures and it is nothing exceptional
to see between thirty and forty pairs
of them at work the same day. Horses
are rarely used in the fields.
Between 4 p. N. and p. m. an en-.
0rmous samovar, Ia special kind of Urn
heated by charcoaD is brought out
and boiling weak tea, with two Jumps
OF sugar at least, is served to the work
ers in tin mugs. The men, of course
used to drink vodka, but now it is
stopped, and happily so, for it is JUS
about the strongest drink that exists
The tea hour being only a short re
spite, work is resumed with vigor anC
continued up till six or nine o'clock
according to the weather. But, ex
cept for a terrific thunderstorm occa
sionally, it rarely rains at this time.
Fond of Fresh Fish.
Supper consists of practically th'
same menu as that which is eaten a
midday baked or boiled potatoes being
generally substituted for the "casha,
and sometimes pond carp, crayfiSh ant
perch, fried. All the meals are copket
outside. An oven and fireplaces mad
Of clay and bricks are built in sor
of trench in a central spot, and her
you see only men cooking.
FreSh-water fish form a very impOT
tant addition to the food supply in in
land Russia. AS there are hundred
I of miles of marshy ground, great pond
are made everywhere. The chief fisl
stocked are carp, tench and crayfisf
The streams and rivers give eXcellen
trout, but cray-fishing also affords goot
sport as well as being a considerabl
fpdustry. A dark night is chosen,
possible, since in the moonlight the fis
, are easily scared and retire to the mic
lie of the pond, where it is impossibl
. to catch them. The fishers are arme
with strong nets about the size of
washing basin, but deeper and weigh
ed, which are attached to long pole:
Approaching the pond as cautiously d
, possible, the nets are dropped in an
allowed to sink to the bottom. The
everyone sits and waits in silence, bU
smoking furiously to keep away tn
, mosquitoes, which are both large an
, vanomous. Then men appear on tn
scene suddenly, flourishing larg
, tor, hes over the surface of the waite
and he crayfsh. retreating, walk int
the nets, which have to be cleared an
, dropped again very promptly.