THE VEGETABLE PRODUCTS OP SIAM. 355 



The Darjeeling species are Anthercea Frithi, Moore ; Anthercea Helferi, 

 Moore ; and Anthercea Roylei, Moore. These new species were exhibited at 

 the Exposition Universelle at Paris, in 1855, 



The larva and cocoon figured on the plate are from the drawings of 

 Lady Isabella Gilbert. The moth is figured from specimens in the South 

 Kensington Museum, 



M. C. C. 



THE VEGETABLE PRODUCTS OF SIAM. 



BY SIR ROBERT H. SCHOMBURGK, K.C.H., BRITISH CONSUL-GENERAL 



OF SIAM. 



The vegetable productions of a country of such vast extent as Siam, lying 

 under the tropics and favoured by periodical rains, are verjr numerous. Rice, 

 sugar, and pepper are, however, the staple articles ; the first serving not 

 only for home consumption, but a large quantity is exported to China. 

 Several varieties of rice are raised ; some account as many as forty, but 

 four species are principally cultivated : namely, the common rice, of a white 

 colour, much resembling the rice of Carolina ; the mountain-rice ; the 

 glutinous, and the red rice. The first kind is mostly exported. 



Rice has hitherto been the principal export from Siam : in 1858 not 

 less than 100,000 tons were 1 exported, principally to China. It is grown 

 over the whole plain of Siam. About the end of June, when the water 

 is rising up the country, the ground is prepared and planted. Na-muang 

 rice is sown broadcast in the paddy-fields, and not transplanted, and is 

 much superior to the Na-suen, having a longer and better grain, and being 

 less liable to get broken. The whife rice is prepared by pounding it, in the 

 same manner as in China. A small quantity of Pulat rice is also grown, 

 and is occasionally shipped to Singapore. 



Next to rice, sugar is the largest article of export from Siam. Nachon- 

 yhaisi and Petrio are the principal sugar districts ; but it is also produced at 

 Paklat, Bangpasoi, Chantibon, and Petchaburi, in considerable quantities. 

 The owners of the mills seldom cultivate the canes themselves, but pur- 

 chase it standing in the fields from the growers, who have usually money 

 advanced to them by the mill-owners at the commencement of the season, 

 to enable them to plant on their ground ; they in return being bound to 

 sell all their cane at a fixed price to the person lending the money, besides 

 paying interest at the usual rate. 



The cultivation of the sugar-cane has greatly increased. It is mostly 

 in the hands of the Chinese. The extraction of the juice of the cane 

 and its manufacture into sugar are carried on in a very primitive 

 manner, without any of the modern improvements, to obtain from 

 the cane the largest possible quantity of a superior quality of sugar. I 



B B 2 



