论十八世纪中期中英农法演化成就与变革趋势——《知本提纲》与《马力中耕农法》之比较研究

本文分别依据成书于18世纪中英两国的具有代表性农书《知本提纲》(zhiben ti gang)与《马力中耕农法》(The Horse-hoing Husbandry),加以较为详尽的论述对比,来说明当时中英两国农业生产的情况及特点。并证实其前期的水平,是以劳动集约为主侧重种植业的中国,在总体成就上高于英国。而英国的农业在此之前虽已呈现变革的肇端,但尚未完成;至于工业革命是在本世纪后期方始启动仍在进行之中。如仅就农艺学角度来看,18世纪的中国似更先进,实际上英国粮作单产与畜产品供应却都有所增加,其原因则可归之于劳动生产率的提高。在此之后的发展变革趋势,侧重工程技术的英国随即超过仍沿袭精耕细作仅以生物技术为主的中国,而先于中国实现了农业的近代化的历史进程。

The Evolution Achievements and Development Trend of Agricultural Techniques of Britain and China in Mid-18th Century——A Comparative Research of "Zhi Ben Ti Gang" and "The Horse-hoing Husbandry"

The essay is based on two representative books on agriculture which were finished in 18th century. The first one is Zhi Ben Ti Gang by Shanshan Yang in Qing Dynasty of China and the second one is The Horse--holding Husbandry from Britain. The author of this essay explained the situation and characteristics of agricultural production both in China and Britain in the 18th century by comparing and arguing in detail. It proved that at the beginning of this period, Chinese agriculture, which was labor--intensive and planting--oriented, made more achievements than the U. K in general although Britain had shown the hint of revolution in agriculture beforehand, yet it had not been finished. As far as the Industry Revolution is concerned, it did not begin until the end of 18th century and still in continuity. China was more advanced in the 18th century from the perspective of agronomy. In reality, the crop production and the supply of pasture products were increased in Britain due to the growth of productivity. After that, more engineering tech--oriented Britain soon surpassed more delicate--cultivation--focused and bio--tech--oriented China, and achieved the historical process of modernization of agriculture before China.