Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya province (Thailand), man harvesting rice

This set of images of Thailand was acquired by the American Geographical Society from Robert Larimore Pendleton (1890 -1957), soil scientist and Professor of Geography at John Hopkins University. The pictures were taken during Pendleton 's research visits to Thailand from the mid 1930s to 1950s. Pendleton served as agricultural adviser to the United Nations FAO Mission to Siam [Thailand] in 1947-1948 and as the soil scientist at the US Mutual Security Agency's Special Technical and Economic Mission to Thailand in 1952-1953.Sheaves of padi [paddy]. This is in the deep water region of "floating" padi [paddy], so that the padi [paddy] was probably harvested directly into the boat. Note the abundance of water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) on the dikes around the fishponds in the background. In the distance farmsteads are hidden by screens of spiny bamboo. Utai township, Ayutia province [Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya province], Central Bangkok Plain, Central Thailand. December, 1937.Grayscal