Tools & tillage: a journal on the history of the implements of cultivation and other agricultural processes (5.1984/1987)

SACH’S CONTRIBUTION

57

TAFEL VII Der Sohlentyp mit einer scharfge-
spitzten, ruderformigen Schar - Dabergotz-Typ.
Abb. 1. Ari mit einem von einem Einrad ge-
stiitzten Grindel, einer einzelnen Sterze und einer
Tiillenschar mit kurzem, holzernem Stiel und
symmetrischen Streichbrettern, angebracht dicht
am schragen Nacken der Sohle. Aus dem
Bbhmerwald, 19.Jh. (Gezeichnet von Dosedla
nach Sperber, 1982, 237, Fig. 477).
Abb. 2. Ari mit Vorkarren, einer einzelnen
Sterze mit einseitigem Griff, und steilgesteltem
gabelformigen Scharbaumbrett. Aus dem Bay-
rischen Wald, 19.Jh. (Gezeichnet von Dosedla
nach Sperber 1982, 237, Fig. 476).
Abb. 3. Ari mit Jochgrindel und einem langen
Bohlenstiel, der eine Tiillenschar in einem steilge
stellten breiten Scharbaumbrett tragt. Aus Travni-
ka, Bosnien, Jugoslawien, um 1930. (Gezeichnet
von Dosedla nach Bratanic 1939, 25, Fig. 10 a).
Abb. 4. Ari mit Vorkarren (nicht abgebildet), ge-
kriimmtem Grindel, einzelner Sterze und steil-
gestelltem Scharbaum-brett und Tiillenschar von
Griessaulefuss zur Sterze. Aus St. Oswald, Be-
zirk Spittai, Kiirnten, friihes 20.Jh. (Nach Do-
sedla 1978/79, 5, Fig. 4).
Abb. 5. Pflug-Arl, gleiche Konstruktion wie
oben, jedoch verbessert durch ein zusatliches,
umkehrbares Streichbrettchen. Aus Kleinkirch-
heim, Bezirk Spittai, Karnten, friihes 20. Jh.
(Nach Dosedla 1977, Tf. II, Fig. 1.3).

Notes
1. Accordingly ploughs as well as other imple-
ments were considered by anthropologists as a
substantial expression of folk art.
2. DIN - Begriffslexikon, Benennung und Defi-
nition aus den Deutschen Normen. Ed. by Dt.
Normen - AusschuE, Berlin 1961.
3. Thus the most part of the author’s numerous
drawings also intended for this purpose are yet
unpublished, but they are now incorporated in
the »Pflug-Archiv« of Hohenheim (BDR.)

REVIEWS

A. M. WATSON, Agricultural innovation in the
early Islamic world. The diffusion of crops and
farming techniques, 700-1100. (Cambridge Stud-
ies in Islamic Civilization) Cambridge University
Press 1983. 260 pp. £ 25.
A. M. Watson, who is Professor of Economic
History in the University of Toronto, has pro-
duced a book that is remarkable for the amount of
well-digested and well-analysed material pre-
sented. He studies first the chronology of diffu-
sion of sorghum, Asiatic rice, hard wheat, sugar
cane, Old World cotton, sour orange, lemon,
lime, shaddock, banana, plantain, coconut palm,
watermelon, spinach, artichoke, colocasia, egg-
plant and mango tree, and then goes on to deal
with the routes and mechanics of diffusion. He
concludes by assessing the importance of these
plants, which played a central role in the develop-
ment of a more productive agriculture at the high
point of their diffusion, and then notes their sub-
sequent decline. The main sources used are liter-
ary, but archaeology, depictions of various kinds,
linguistics and botany are also given critical atten-
tion where such evidence is available. In his de-
monstration of the scale and effectiveness of the
activity, he succeeds in re-appraising the nature of
Arab civilisation, showing that there was far more
to it than the pastoralism with which it is com-
monly associated.
A number of maps is used to show sources,
directions and areas of diffusion, from India and
China in particular to the Middle East and be-
yond. Amongst the numerous details of interest is
the point that hard wheat has a low water con-
tent, which permits storage over very long
periods. Arab sources from the 12th century and
later suggest that it may be kept for 80 years or
more in silos, and then sown. Such wheat reached
Spain by the 10th century, and it may be specu-
lated that the technique of underground storage
of grain was stimulated by the introduction of
this crop.
Uses of plants are noted, not only as food, but
also in medicine, and in the case of cotton the rate