2022-5-21

記得以前的歷史教科書上是說，中國古代鯀的兒子大禹，對洪水進行疏導，治理好了黃河。

兩百年前的1821年，一個名叫蔣江森（1791-1880）的蘇格蘭農民移民到了美國的紐約州，帶來了歐洲相對先進的農業技術。他在日內瓦附近買了一塊地，給這塊地施肥，也發明了一種方法，用陶瓷瓦管對農田排水，從而改變了美國。

這一技術，被廣泛推廣應用，尤其是工業化和美國工程兵技術的採用，從而使得美國從一個撮爾小國，變成一個農業大國。蔣江森和他的妻子瑪格麗特的貢獻，不容小視。

若干年後，紐約一個富商的兒子，名叫羅伯特斯萬（1826-1890），酷愛園藝和農業生產，他娶了蔣江森和瑪格麗特的千金小姐，也叫瑪格麗特，二人買了一個更大的農場，依次而建立了一個農業試驗站，是美國最早的農業試驗站之一，後來發展成了康奈爾大學的一部分。

• Robert Swan was born in 1826, the fifth child of New York City merchant Benjamin Swan and his wife Mary. According to a family history written by Robert’s youngest brother Fred, he attended a private school in New York City and went to work at about 15 as a clerk in the dry goods business. He was promoted to be a salesman and spent several years working in business in the area that is today the Financial District. Due to poor health and under the advice of a doctor, he gave up the mercantile business to become a farmer. He spent two years living and learning with John Johnston, then a farmer well known for his innovative methods.

• Swan followed the practical methods he learned from Johnston—lime, manure, and tile drainage—and was a successful farmer. In 1853, Robert was awarded a silver cup by the New York State Agricultural Society for Best Drainage. He won the Society’s Premium for Best Wheat Farm in the State in 1858. Beyond winning its awards, Swan was active in the New York State Agricultural Society. He was president in 1881 as the Experiment Station was being established.

這可是美國最早的農業試驗站的年度報告，雖然比英國洛桑試驗站的年度報告，晚了將近40年。