ought not to take steps to engage in the cultivation of some secondary crop, such as tobacco. I have been informed that there is no reason, so far as climatic conditions are concerned, why tobacco should not be produced in Siam and that it could be produced in the off seasons between the rice crops. Why should Siam not profit, as Java has done from large tobacco crops? Not only would this diversify Siam’s crops, but it would of course considerably increased the national production and the consequent revenues of the government. Similarly, there seems reasons why Siam should not grow hemp and other similar products.
Might not more assistance also be given to effects to obtain the of a more standard and better rice seed, and thus to standardize the rice produced in Siam and to improve the quality of the crop? Again, might not the fisheries be protected and the production of fish thus increased? I believe that certain kinds of fisheries are now being injured through lack of protection, with proper fish protection and an efficient Fishery Department not only could this injury be stopped but the amount of fish available for food actually increased.
The idea which I am trying to suggest is that the production of Siam should be stimulated an increased in order to increase the prosperity of the country. All this would seem largely dependent upon the efforts of the Department of Agriculture but that Department of course, is helpless to undertake such activities without adequate funds. Inasmuch as the future prosperity of Siam
