Introducing Agricultural Engineering in China

271 Pages·2014·13.92 MB·English

Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering Technical
Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering
Reports and White Papers
6-1-1949
Introducing Agricultural Engineering in China
Edwin L. Hansen
Howard F. McColly
Archie A. Stone
J. Brownlee Davidson
Iowa State University
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Part of theAgriculture Commons, and theBioresource and Agricultural Engineering Commons
Recommended Citation
Hansen, Edwin L.; McColly, Howard F.; Stone, Archie A.; and Davidson, J. Brownlee, "Introducing Agricultural Engineering in China"
(1949).Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering Technical Reports and White Papers. 14.
http://lib.dr.iastate.edu/abe_eng_reports/14
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Introducing Agricultural Engineering in China
Abstract
The Committee on Agricultural Engineering in China. was invited by the Chinese government to visit the
country and determine by research and demonstration the practicability of introducing agricultural
engineering techniques, and to assist in advancing education in the field of agricultural engineering.
The program of the Committee was carried out under the direction of the Ministry of Agriculture and
Forestry, and the Ministry of Education of the Republic of China.
The program was sponsored by the International Harvester Company of Chicago, assisted by twenty- four
other American firms.
Disciplines
Agriculture | Bioresource and Agricultural Engineering
This report is available at Iowa State University Digital Repository:http://lib.dr.iastate.edu/abe_eng_reports/14

Introducing
AGRICULTURAL ENGINEERING
in China
The Committee on Agricultural Engineering in China. was
invited by the Chinese government to visit the country
and determine by research and demonstration the prac
ticability of introducing agricultural engineering tech
niques, and to assist in advancing education in the field
of agricultural engineering.
The program of the Committee was carried out under the
direction of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry,
and the Ministry of Education of the Republic of China.
The program was sponsored by the International Harvester
Company of Chicago, assisted by twenty-four other
American firms.
Edwin L. Hansen
Howard F. McColly
Archie A. Stone
J. Brownlee Davidson,
Chairman
Chicago, Illinois
June I, 1949
. ;,.::· .·:·: ..:.: ... .
ii
CONTENTS
PAGE
FOREWORD. vi
!. THE ORIGIN AND OBJECTIVES OF THE
COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURAL ENGINEERING
1. Reconstruction Plans for China .. , . . ..... . ,
l. The Relation of Engineering to Agriculture ..
3, Chinese and American Agriculture Compared .......•
4. Objectives for Agriculture. . • .• •....
5. Machines and the Well-being of the Farmer .. , , •...•.•.
6. Employment. . . . . . ...........••.•.
7, Objectives of the Educational Program in
Agricultural Engineering in China .. ,
8. Methods Used by the Committee .
9. Equipment. •...
10. Term of Service .....••........
II. INSTITUTIONS WITH WHICH THE COMMITTEE ON
AGRICULTURAL ENGINEERING WAS ASSOCIATED
1. The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry ..... , . 9
l. The Ministry of Education ... , , •..........•. , , • . • . <;
3. The National Agricultural Research Bureau .. , .• , . , . . . 9
4. NaUonal Central Univers;ty . , . , , , , , , , , • , , , , , 11
5. The University of Nan.king . , . • . . . , •..•. , . 11
6. Other Institutions and Agencies. , , , , ....• , , , . , .. , . 11
7, Travel in China . . . . , , , , , . , , , .. , , , . , , , , , . ll
III. CHINESE AGRICULTURE AND ITS RELATION TO TRANS
PORTATION, MANUFACTURING, AND MINERAL RESOURCES
1. Agricultural Geography, Population, Arable Land,
and Animal Production. , . . . . . • . . . . • • . • • . • • • . . • . 17
Z. Agricultural Regions of China. , , .•....•.... , .. , . • . . 23
3. Agriculture and Transportation. •• , . , . • . . . . . . . . . . • . . 35
4. Agriculture and Manufacturing , . , . , . , • , , , , , . 4g
5. Agriculture and Development of Natural Resources 54
6. Rural Life and lts Relation to Economic and Political
Stability. . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
IV. RESEARCH AND DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM OF THE
COMMITTEE
1. Need for Research .. , . , •... , .. , ....•.......... , 6 i
l. National Agricultural Research Bureau . . 61
3. Department of Agricultural Engineering. . . . . 63
4, Facilities for Research in Agricultural Engineering at the
National Agricul.t 'u.\"r:.a" l. :,'."R. ~. s' .e..a... rch. ·.::B. ~u.:r_ _ e.: au, .. , .. , 63
.... "
S760, C6
c 73a..
iii
194-9
PAGE
V. REVIEW OF RESULTS OF RESEARCH AND DEMONSTRATION
1. Organization of Research Program ...... , . , , , ..... . 73
2. List o( Research and Demonstration Projects . , ...•. 73
3. Sample Project Outline ....... ... . 75
4. Training Farm Machinery and Tractor Operators , , , , .. , . 77
5. Field Tests of Farm Machines and Implement Research .... 79
6, Wheat Production ...... . 94
7. Cotton Production ....... , .. , 96
8. Rice Production .•.. . 97
9. Corn and Bean "Production . . . ....• , •• , •. , . , .•. IOZ
10. Summary of Crop Production Studies .. , .... .. .• , , .. . l06
II. Well Drilling. , . . . . , ...... . 107
IZ. Irrigation and Drainage Pumping ..... , . , .. .....•. , .. l07
13. Processing Farm Crops , . , . ... , ..... . , . . , . . . .. . . 108
VI. THE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM
l. Kinds of Training Needed .. , , , , . ... , ..... 116
l. National Central University Curriculum in
Agricultural Engineering ... .•...... ....... •••. I 19
3. The University of Nanking ..... , ... . . IZO
4. National Central University . , .. IZ5
5. Other Institutions. . . . . ... , . 133
~: ~h~~e~:~ti:~YS:;1~~:t!o~~l.~~r·k·o·f .t~e. ~~~t~e.e:::::::: 137
140
VII. HARVESTER FELLOWSHIPS
l. Selection of Students !or Fellowships. . . . . . . . . • . . 143
l. Addition of Technical Training , . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 143
3. Practical Training on Farms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 143
4. Practical Training with Dealers and Distributors.. . . • . . . . l5Z
5. Practical Training in the Factories. . . .. . , . . . I 5Z
6. Employment in China . . • . . . . . . . . . . l 5Z
7. Positions Secured by Harvester Fellows. . . . . . ..•.. , . . 156
8. Agricultural Engineering Trainees . . . ... , . . . . 158
Vlll. THE SELECTION OF FARM MACHINERY
l. Manual Implements .. .. .. . . ........ , . , ..••.. . , . 159
l. Harvesting Implements . . . . . . .. . . , .. . , . • . . . . 161
3. Threshing Implements .•. , . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 163
4. Miscellaneous Implements ....... , . ..•. , 163
5. Improving Implements . ...... ..••. , . , . 163
6. Wheel Hoes. • . . . . . . . . . . . . • . • . 164
7. Capacity of Hand implements . . . . . . .. , . 164
8. Animal-Drawn Implements, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . I66
9. Tillage Implements .......... . . . . . , . , . . .... , . . . 166
10. Planting Machines ........• , •.. .. , .•.• . , . . . 169
l l. Threshing Machines .. , , , . , ..• , . , . . . , . , . . .•. , . . 169
ll. Transportation . . . . . . .. , .. , . , . , . . . . . 169
iv
PAGE
13. Capacity. . • . . . . . . . . . . .... .......•. 169
14. Labor Required to Produce Crops .•....•. . 172
15. Modern Animal-Drawn Implements. ..... , .... , .. . 172
16. Garden Tractors ... , . . . , .... , .. . 173
17. Farm Tractors and Implements ....... , ........•. . 176
18. Crops. . . ..... , . ..•...... 177
19. Fields . . . . . . , . , .•. , . 180
20. Classifying Farm Machinery . , ....•... . , . . ~ ...•.. 180
21. Farm Enterprise Situations ... , . ........... , •. , .. 183
22. Lists of Machinery. . . ...•.. . , •. , . , ...• , , . 184
Farmall Cub System ........................ . 191
Farmall Super A System. ......•. , .•.... , .• , •. , 193
Farmall C System. . . ... .... , . , •.•.•.•. , 195
Farmall H System, . . . . . ........... , .•.. 196
Fa,rmall M System. . . . . . . ... ........ . , •.. ... 197
IX. SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION
l. Chinese Land. . . . . . . . . . . • . . . . •. , . . . • . . 199
l. Classification of Soils .. , , .. , . , ...... , , . , ....• , . 199
Za. Terracing .... , ................... , . . , . . . . . • 203
3. lrdga\ion . . . . . . . . . . • . . . . . . . . . . . • . • . . . . • . . . . 204
4. Irrigation from Streams . . . . . . . . • . • . . . . . 204
5. Shallow Well Irrigation . • . . . . . • . • . . . . . . . . . . . . . 207
6. Deep Well lrdgation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 207
7. Lifting Irrigation Water.. 208
8. Water Ladder . . . , ... , .. , , , • , . • 208
9. Archimedes Screw Pwnps .....•.•.• , , . , . . . . . . . . • 2.10
10. Mechanical Pumps ..... , . . . • . • . • . • . . 210
11. Windmills. . ...•........ , . , ... , , . 211
12.. Drainage. . . ..•.. , . , , • , , . . • . • . . . • . . . . . . . . . 211
X. RURAL HOUSING AND SANITATION
l. Chinese Rural Housing . . . . . ..•.••....•.•..... 213
2. Demonstration Houses , ... . , .•.•...•.•.• , , .•... 213
3. Storage Buildings. . . . . . , .•... , ...•. , , • , , . , • 216
4. Grain Dryer , . . . . . . . . , .. , .... , , .. 216
5. Tests of Building Materials , .•• , .•...•.•.. , . , 216
6. Sanitation . ... 220
7. Community Buildings 220
XI. SPECIAL TOPICS
A. Reorganization of Chinese Agriculture. . 221
B. The Fuel Problem . . . . ....... , , • . • . . 222
C. Development of Rural and Village Industries. , .. , , , . • . 223
1. History . . . . . . . . . . , . . 224
2. Contemporary Types of Industry in China ... , 225
3. Some Specific Rural Industries .............. , . . 227
4. Relation of Home Industries to Modern Factories. . . 228
PAGE
5. Chinese Industrial Cooperatives--A Wartime
Development . . . . ... . . . 230
6. Agricultural Engineering in Mo.iern Rural Industry . . 233
7. Research .. 233
8. Organization and Guidance . . . . . . .... .... . 236
9. Design, Development, and Improvement of Farm
Equipment Made in Rural Factories ...... . 236
D. Soil Fertility and Fertilizers . . 236
I. Maintenanc-e of Soil Fertility ... 236
2. Kinds of Fertilizers Used in China ... 237
3. Some Typical Methods of Preparing and Using
Natural Fertilizers. . . . . . . ........ . . 243
4. Use of Commercial Fertilizers in China , . 245
5. Labor Requirements of Distributing Fertilizer , 246
6. Suggestions for Improving Soil Fertility and
Crap Yields ... 246
7, Suggestions for Development of Fertilizer-
Distributing Equipment , .. ........ . 248
E. Employment of Surplus Agricultural Labor .. . 251
Xll. APPRAISAL OF RESULTS AND SUGGESTIONS FOR THE
FUTURE
I. A Review of the Program ... 253
l. Plans and Suggestions for the Future. , .• , 255
APPENDIX
A. National Agricultural Educational Institutions of China . . . . 258
B. Companies Supporting the Program of the Committee on
Agricultural Engineering with Donations of Equipment. . . 259
vi
FOREWORD
In the early months o( 1945, an educational program for the introduction of
improved production techniques into the agriculture of China, was presented
to the International Harvester Company by Dr, P. W. Tsou, who represented
the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry of that country.
This program included:*
I. The establishment of fellowships, such fellowships to provide all expenses
connected with three years of college and practical training in agricultural
engineering in the United States, for twenty selected graduates of Chinese
colleges.
II. The selection of four experienced agricultural engineers, designated as
the Committee on Agricultural Engineering, to study the application of en
gineering techniques to China 1s agriculture, to demonstrate them in the
field, and to assist in the development of instruction related thereto.
Ill. The furnishing of equipment to three research and educational institu
tions in China, including farm machines, tractors, wood- and metal-working
machines, instruments and tools for experimental laboratories and shops
sufficient to enable these institutions to conduct research and instruction in
modern farm equipment and agricultural production methods.
The program presented by Dr. Tsou was first reviewed from the technical
viewpoint by Mr. Arnold P. Yerkes and Mr. Arthur W. Turner, who then
referred the matter to the executives of the Harvester Company.
Mr. Fowler McCormick, Chairman of the Board of Directors, had for some
time been interested in and had supported the mass-education program of
Or. Y. C. Yen in China. When the program of education in agricultural en
gineering was presented to the Company, other executives, including Mr.
J. L. McCaffrey, President, and Mr. G. C. Hoyt, Executive Vice President,
looked with favor upon giving the program careful consideration. After due
consideration the Harvester Company agreed to sponsor the program pre
sented by Dr. Tsou, with some modification.
Early in the year 1945, the program got under way with the appointment of
the four members of the Committee on Agricultural Engineering, whose
active work on the program began July l, 1946.
In June, 1945, the first contingent of the Chinese fellowship students arrived
in the United States to begin their term of training.
The four members of the Committee, with their families, left San Francisco
in January 1947 for China, and continued their work there until December 1948,
when political and military conditions in China made it necessary for them to
return to America.
•Further information concerning the origin of this educational program
may be found in a pamphlet: ttCommittee on Ag.zicultural Engineering", puL
lished by the International Harvester Company, Chicago, 1947.
vii
This report: 1, sets forth the aims and the objectives of the educational
program in agricultural engineering; l, describes the geographic, economic,
and social conditions in Chinese agriculture related to the introduction of
engineering techniques of production; 3, reviews the contacts, activities, and
observations of the Committee during its term of work; and 4, gives the
present employment of the recipients of the Harvester fellowships.
The Committee is very grateful to the International Harvester Company, the
sponsors of the project, for the generous assistance and encouragement at
all times. It was particul~rly gratifying to have the personal interest of
Mr. Fowler McCormick, Chairman of the Board, Mr. J. L. McCaffrey,
President, Mr. Robert P. Messenger, Vice President, and Mr. G. C. Hoyt,
Executive Vice President,under whose direction the program was carried
out. Mr. Arnold P. Yerkes gave much help in outlining the program, par
ticularly from the technical and educational viewpoint. Many members of
the staff of the Foreign Operations Department of the International Harvester
Company, at home and abroad, contributed in a most helpful way.
The members of the Committee wish to acknowledge with much appreciation
the helpful assistance and many courtesies received from many persons and
institutions in connection with their work. Particular mention should be
made of the effort of Chinese associations to explain to us from abroad the
conditions and background that control so many well-established practices.
It is not possible in this foreword to mention all of those who have rendered
valuable assistance and to whom the Committee is very grateful. Particular
mention is made of the following:
Dr. Y. T. Tsur, former Minister of Agriculture and Forestry; appointed
Minister of Health in 1947
Dr. Shun-Sheng Tso, Minister of Agriculture and Forestry
Dr. Chia-Hua Chua, Minister of Education
Dr. T. H. Shen, Director, and Dr. F. C. Woo, Vice Director, National
Agricultural Research Bureau
Dr. H. C. Chow, President, Dr. C. S. Lo, Dean of Faculties, and Dr. T. L.
Tsou, Dean, College of Agriculture, National Central University
Dr. Y. K. Chen, President, and Dr. C.H. Chang, Dean, College of Agriculture
and Forestry, University of Nanking
Dr. Paul C. Ma, Director of Agricultural Division, MOAF, and Director of
the Agricultural Machinery Operation and Management Office
Mr. C. Y. Lin, General Manager, National Agricultural Engineering
Corporation
Mr. L. T. Woo, Head of the Department of Agricultural Engineering, NARB
Mr. Owen L. Dawson, Agricultural Attache, U.S. Consulate
Mr. C. V. Schelke, General Manager, and Mr. L. S. Ku, Assistant Manager,
Andersen, Meyer and Co., Ltd., Representatives, International
Harvester Co., Shanghai
Dr. K. S. Sie, Representative, MOAF in U.S.A.
Mr. H. T. Chien, Deputy Director, AMOMO
Mr. T. S. Hsu, Deputy Director, AMOMO
Mr. A. D. Faunce, Associate Director, AMOMO