Tools & tillage: a journal on the history of the implements of cultivation and other agricultural processes (1.1968/1971)

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the basis of a classification on this subject are men-
tioned. The author’s own functional point of view
and his critical sense are emphasized.
In the text all the information about the individual
ploughs or ards pictured is kept together. First the
figure, name and provenance is mentioned, then fol-
lowing the same pattern throughout the book, the
various data are given - whether the specimen is an
original or a model and if so the scale; then follow
its different numbers in the Hohenheim Collection;
and the text includes a description of the basis on
which the model has been produced. Comments are
given by Klein on the information taken from the in-
ventories of the Collection. If there is doubt about
the origin or the basis for the model this is mentioned.
In particular drawings by Karl Rau and R. Braungart
have been the basis for models. The pictures most
often referred to for comparison are those from Paul
Leser’s book “Entstehung und Verbreitung des
Pfluges”.
To aratrologists the value of this part of the Hohen-
heim Collection is doubtful.
Some of the models are well-made and reliably
produced on the basis of measurements or as copies
on a smaller scale of the original implements. Unfor-
tunately those models are included in the collection
on an equal footing with those produced on the basis
of pictures of ploughing implements in medieval ma-
nuscripts, of rock-carvings or rough sketches. Because
of the uneven quality of the Collection it is necessary
to have Ernst Klein’s Catalogue at hand in order to
get a positive result out of a study of the Collection.
Without the Catalogue the Collection must be con-
sidered of no scientific value - a curious collection of
toys only.
With his critical acumen Klein has given the facts
which he finds necessary to enable the readers to
distinguish for themselves between the reliable models
and the doubtful or quite unreliable.
According to Klein, the Catalogue could serve as
an illustrated history of ploughing implements, since
it covers both ards and ploughs through prehistoric,
medieval and later times.
The excellent references to plough literature in the
notes and index may also make the search for relevant
sources easier for the researcher.
As regards the pictures, many are too small and the

contrast between light and shadow is very harsh. This
makes it impossible to distinguish the constructional
elements, which according to Klein is a matter of
especial importance.
The Collection of plough-models at Hohenheim is
the oldest of its kind. Later collections are to be
found in, e. g. Stockholm, Copenhagen and Cairo.
G. Lerche
Michal Markus: MOTYKY Z MEDZEVA. Hacken
- (Hauen) Typen aus Ost- und Mitteleuropa. (Hoes
from Medzev). Published in slovensky narodopis
3, XIV, 1966, Bratislava. 54 pages incl. 22 plates,
written in Czech with German summary.
The author describes the manufacture of hoes at
the hammer-mills in Medzev. Since the second half
of the 13th century mining tools were made here of
imported iron, which were used also in the iron
mines of Upper Austria and Bavaria. In the 18th-
19th century the production changed to the manu-
facture of agricultural implements, especially hoes.
The Medzev-hoes were mainly distributed in Slo-
vakia and Bohemia, but many were exported to the
surrounding countries, as far away as Turkey and
Russia. In the 19th century a total of about hundred
master-smiths in Medzev produced hoes in more than
two hundred various types. Each type had its own
term, and some types were named after the places or
the population where the hoe-type was used. The
author finds this naming after localities very im-
portant.
Each hoe-type pictured is seen in section and from
the rear-side. The Czech name is given together with
the German one and the weight of each of the types
is indicated in decagrammes (e. g, 90 dkg,) The kind
of work carried out with each hoe-type described is
probably mentioned in the Czech text. The hoe-types
are systematized into groups after their shape and
use: 1) cultivating hoes, 2) hoes for winegrowing,
3) plant hoes.
The author considers the shape and weight of a
hoe of great importance - some were used by men,
others by women and children. Where the different
hoe-types were used depended upon the geographical
conditions and the quality of the soil. This is shown
on a distribution map. q percpe