近代农业生产技术全球扩散与中国的协同应对——以轧花机为视角

Global Diffusion of Modern Agricultural Production Technology and China’s Coordinated Response——From the Perspective of Cotton Gin

轧花机是棉花加工领域最重要的生产机器。1793年锯齿轧花机的发明标志着现代轧花机的诞生。二战前,轧花机的发展历史分为三个历史阶段。18世纪开始,现代轧花机不断向全球产棉区扩散。中国棉业于19世纪晚期被迫卷入国际棉业市场格局中,此后,中国面临西方棉业生产技术优势冲击。在棉花加工领域,中国民间匠人、铁厂、机器厂等对引进的轧花机不断进行改良与创新,丰富轧花机的类型并提高效能,使之更加适应中国棉农的生产方式;棉业专家对不同类型轧花机的效率和轧棉品质进行试验与对比研究,为棉农和轧花厂提供科学依据,政府也给予一定的政策支持。总体来说,在对西方先进农业生产机器的引进、改良与创新方面,中国棉商、机器厂、民间匠人、政府等呈现出了较强的“干中学”和“协同应对”的能力。20世纪30年代,基本形成了适合中国国情的轧棉技术应用及布局。其整体发展过程体现了中国农业近代化转型中技术要素的发展特点。

Cotton gin is the most important production machine in cotton processing.The invention of the Sawtooth Gin in 1793 marked the birth of the modern gin.Before the Second World War,the history of cotton gin was divided into three stages.Since the 18 th century,the modern cotton gin has spread to cotton cropping areas all over the world.In the late 19 th century,China’ s cotton industry was forced to be involved in the international cotton market.After that,China was deeply influenced by the technological superiority of Western cotton industry.In the field of cotton processing,Chinese iron mills,machine factories and some Chinese folk craftsmen tried to improve the cotton ginning machines in the filed of cotton processing,which enriched the types of cotton ginning machines and improved their efficiency,so that these machines could adapt to the production mode of China’s cotton farmers.Cotton industry experts conducted experiments and studied the efficiency and quality of different types of cotton ginning machines.It has provided scientific basis for cotton farmers and cotton ginning factories,and the government has also provided certain policy support.In general,China’s cotton merchants,machine factories,folk craftsmen and the government showed a strong ability of "learning through work" and "coping with cooperatively" in the process of introduction and improvement of Cotton gin.In the 1930 s,the application and layout of cotton ginning technology suitable for China’s national conditions was basically formed.Its overall development process reflected the characteristics of technical factors in the transformation of agricultural modernization in China.