Farming technique from prehistoric to modern times

Geoforum

109

16/73

The subject of the following agricultural

chapter

is the

changes in the Dark Ages.

FUSSELL

maintains

that slow progress

comparison

is made between

estates of the Roman

small holdings of Northern improvementsof employment

A

the large

territories

The

of

system in the open-fields, use of the eda-

phic resources; 3) the introduction

of tropi-

plants, e.g., citrus,

peninsula

utilization

by the Arabs; and 4)

of horses as a means of plough

traction

are also mentioned.

chapter

treats farming

Ages. The writer population

The following

progress in the Middle

analyses the increase in

and the expansion

of arable land

resulting from the introduction tation technique

of crop ro-

in the three-field

system.

The decrease in arable area brought

about

by floods, wind erosion on newly reclaimed lands, plagues, and wars after the fourteenth century

are studied.

Chapters

and seventeenth

centuries.

The effects of new means of communication, implements,

techniques,

food production are considered. numerous

in different

parts of Europe

are discussions of

types of ploughs and other

tion equipment, and manuring, including

improved

In the following

ways of drainage

section, century.

the country

FUSSELL Farming” According

advance in agriculture

in the first

drain pipes, the establish-

interest to those studying

industries,

landscapes.

and better ani-

tural colleges and associations

of agricul-

spite these increases, cultivated

local products. century

The influences

when

of science factors

of farming

:

-

farming

Regulations,

practices

outbreak

progress in the USA

the book is well-organized

misleading.

references

to the

to numerous

Next,

manufacturing,

features

The inclusion of maps would

western examples

of the Norfolk

wheel plough, and the jethro 4) dissemination

of farming

5) the willingness landholders,

of open-

Tull seed drill; literature;

of farmers,

and

especially

to carry out experiments

large with

the areas of certain

are often given in too general terms, of wooded

terrain

about agricultural

techniques

primarily

to the description Some agricultural

should have been up-dated;

of

the selection

the most recent

figures are those of early 1950’s.

Other

de-

and interchangeable

of the metric and British measurement

were also attained Countries,

in some parts of the Low

Germany,

these countries,

Italy,

and Sweden.

rulers, wealthy

farmers,

In

(p. 155),

tems are detracting. scription

Finally,

rural settlements

would

in the handling

of topics”.

environment

that the work of

in Maps. Nevertheless,

of topics appears to create a whereby

of Zambia

the physical

merits only seven

chapters out of the total fifty-five,

terms, e.g.,

that is

less than 15 % of the discussion is involved use

sys-

a fuller de-

and analysis of the elements

Plan. To quote

to be the “Geography

but Zambia

sort of imbalance,

Hukenpflug

advances

is

and

and the

stresses the geogra-

The reader should be reminded

data

believed to be factors leading to the progress Similar

Development

Zambia”,

Western Europe.

trade, transport

“the format

been left out since the body of the work

of agriculture

in England.

First National

mining;

educational

tourism; and regional inequalities

does not pretend

foreign

seeds and breeds of animals are

and service facilities;

phical or spatial viewpoint

of the United

tails like unexplained

improved

power; medical,

States in the last two chapters should have devoted

systems; commercial

as well in the selection

Discussions

popula-

developments;

towns and urbanization;

the editor:

in

France (p. 63). What is needed are of specific localities.

Zambia.

background;

political

agricultural

to locations.

such

of the Nor-

traditional

in the

agriculture;

New

and attitudes

historical

tion characteristics;

text, there are no maps where one can refer

the locations

of contemporary

the topics could be grouped

environment;

despite

place-names

and

under separate headings such as the physical

in Western

and most of America

ommitted.

the handling of topics,

The major theme of the work appears to be

In

of rural activities

are completely

The

detail”.

Europe;

progress on the continent.

3) invention

and

are

authors.

is careful to point out that “limita-

description

obstructed

folk rotation;

editor

by sixteen different

and . . . the maps vary in accuracy

a few weaknesses are apparent.

First, the title is somewhat

e.g., the reclamation

adoption

handled

coun-

topics, each

by maps and diagrams,

during

wars and contagious

and re-allotment

of Sierra Leone in Maps, and

tions of space affect

Asia, Africa,

in

Zambia

Press. E 2.00.

Tunzuniu in Mops. Fifty-five accompanied

is also treated.

presented,

of London

the format

since the

ments in each of the West European

Although

ed. (1971):

This book of 128 pages follows very closely

the changes in

and engineering

Recent

D. Hywell,

Maps. 128 pp., tables, maps. London: University

of the First World War. Develop-

tries are related.

DAVIES,

is entitled

Mechanization,

and emphasizes

diseases to both men and animals seriously

fields; 2) wide-spread

in the

States is also given for comparative

have aided the reader in visualizing

as: 1) enclosure

De-

are given for each of the coun-

purposes. The final chapter Science,”

Wise.

during the early part of the

tires. A general description United

Whitewater,

grains came to replace

and the effect of external

on agriculture

Mario HIRAOKA,

areas in

Europe decreased after the 1870’s

and technology

rural history and

helped to

spread the new tools and techniques.

imported

informa-

improved

the creation

describes

in the British Isles during

should be com-

ment of fertilizer

cheaper

and by

techniques

tive figures. The book should be of great

Accordingly,

in the period was

implements,

the author

of the cylindrical

discussed. Moreover,

techniques,

Furthermore,

a presentation

to the

the agricultural

of a wide time span into ‘a concise volume.

the book is restricted

believes that improve-

In contrast,

reconstructing

mended for the use of numerous

for oxen and horses, the invention

peaceful

the period.

By the

innovations,

of the steam engine as a

mal breeds and seeds greatly

the author

service by con-

densing a large body of literature

and the decrease in out-

ments were possible because of relatively conditions

Despite some of the drawbacks, has done an outstanding

its heading,

that showed the greatest

The author

substitute

and farm structures

practices on the landscape.

spite of the impression one receives from

from the Americas.

of Improved

the eighteenth

England.

cultiva-

a large variety of crops

those brought

the “Spread author

and new crops on

Included

the years 1815-

a series of technological

i.e., the invention

“1914

five and six describe developments

in the sixteenth

to the pro-

is placed on the increase of

yields. In addition,

sugar cane, rice, black plum, and lucern to the lberian

which reflect so clearly the agricultural

1914.

1850’s,

lands to turn heavy soils; 2) the adoption

cal and semi-tropical

and chemistry.

put in the second part of the period.

of heavier ploughs in Germanic

making for a more rational

yards, threshing floors,

between

Emphasis

Little emphasis is given to field forms, farm

based on plant

gress of farming

half of the century

the time such as: 1) the

the three-field

breeding,

arable land and productivity

and the

Europe.

took the lead

One fifth of the book is devoted

plagues, and by the neglect of farming in previous centuries.

and intellectuals the new practices

and animal nutrition,

during the period was caused by wars and treatises written

industrialists, in fomenting

of

have been desirable.

with the all important very complex

not clear however, publisher topics.

considerations

of this

topic. The reason for this is it is certain that the

would have accepted

additional

110

Geoforum

There are important

points of notable

sion: (1) physiographic regions, (3) characteristic

vegetation

tions for smali areas, (4) distribution portant

omis-

regions, (2) climatic

from the producing been included.

Natural

map of Zambia is inaccurate

sions. The work is certainly

identification

Block as Katanga

the author

of selected countries

Meta-sediments.

Lusaka

analysis

World.

and John R. GIARDINO,

la minutie

in

Newly

nations are sensitive about

kingdoms

AD 1500-1900, in presenting

While early (10 & 1 1 ),

discussion of pre-

74 illustr.

London:

on European

(14), each

1895

Butterworths.

ex-

of which

especially

is dealt

Statistics are a problem

have been preferred

if more informa-

tion could have been shown using the 1969 census, and the maps showing

“Age Structure”,

“Sex Ratio”,

tion” appear to be somewhat by using figures of the 1963 all other information

and “Migraout of place

census when

is related to the 1967-

69 period. being a country

it is disappointing

of classic mono that the Cop-

perbett mining region and economy a single chapter.

With copper providing

95 per cent of all foreign exchange, ing complex

meritsonly

and its implications

over

the min-

deserve a

discussion.

urgente; I’auteur

analyse les trois aspects de

la modernisation

en tours:

qu’il posdde

I’une et I’autre dans le gros

La premiere L’auteur

partie du livre (pp. l-68)

met d’abord

the closing statement

Geography

(l),

under Retrospect

Prospect merit special attention;

intervenus

des perspectives

positives, I’abaissement mariage, combines

and and

Professor

immigration malthusienne.

forte

cette tendance

largement

de la

modifiee, Les

ont diminue,

global s’est ameliore

des travailleurs

grande. Cette derniere migrations

dune

et qualitativement.

est devenue plus

aboutit

de la population interieures

i une repar le jeu de

dirigies

surtout

les villes du sud-est (Provence-Cote et Paris. Le peuplement % de la population

vers

d’Azur)

rural reste important totale)

et I’habitat

rural conserve une grande diversiti,

technique

marches.

heritage

Iocalisation dustrielle,

Le taux d’accroisurbaine

est le double

juridique, aux

presente quatre

volution

de la premiere

rc’voiution

le role fondamental technologique

dans les implantations (c’est le problhme

des in-

dune

en tours,

rd-

I’im-

gouvernementale

manufacturi&es

de la d~centralisation),

l’essor de la concentration

economique.

Quant

il s’amplifie

au secteur tertiaire,

e’tant donne ses aspects multiples, se limite volontairement

et,

l’auteur

a I’examen

du tou-

risme. Au travers de ces pages apparait fait gbgraphique quitibre

un

majeur qui est le d&C-

gdographique

par l’hypertrophie

franqais souligne

de I‘agglomdration

parisienne et I’opposition

entre la France

de I’Ouest bien moins developpee rdgion de la partie orientale

que les

du pays.

C’est cette idde-force qui va orienter

le plan

de la troisieme

con-

partie (pp. 200-453)

sac&e i des essais re’gionaux. l’auteur

Le choix de

pourra ici etre discutd. Mr. THOMP-

SON desire dtudier des regions fonctionnelles aptes j voir leurs vocations sp&ifiques ploitees de manidre planifiee texte economique

national.

France en fonction

urbain.

reforme

qui sont le dise’quilibre

m&e

est celui du

est

regions industrie~les lie aux facteurs de

decide d’adopter

le plus caracte’ristique

de

oti une

et structurelle

L’industrie

caractiristiques

mime

essai d’adaptation

d’une iongue histoire rurale. Mais le phino-

sement de la population

involved with the coun-

Cconomiques

emplois du secteur primaire

distribution

De-

familiale

De m&me la structure

active a iti

quantitativement

la mobilite

mondiale.

de I’hge moyen du

ont renversi

diveloppement

and circumstances

and operation.

dans ce do-

au maintien

au moment

portance de I’intervention

de la

une politique

Davies presents a succinct and concise ac-

try’s existence

precoce de la popula-

diminution

count of the problems which are intricately

II expose les

recul peu rapide de la mortalite)

et les changements

population

franqaise.

recente de la France:

causes du vieillissement

favorable,

itudie

en vaieur ie fait fonda-

ddmographique.

archa’iques freine I’&olution

progres technique,

les divers aspects de la population

(25,9

The chapter on Political

de Paris et Le poids de

revolution

le niveau technique

With Zambia

I’attraction

celle des capitales regionales.

des gens

puis lors, en effet,

It

est tres

de defauts; son ex-

demontre

connaissance

maine depuis la Z&me Guerre

in most works.

de transport

dense mais non exempt

economi-

et des lieux. Mr. I. B.THOMPSON

ficonditi,

of Zambia,

joint i ceiui de I’hydro-

Le r&eau

alliee a une profonde

when one considers that the Copperbelt

population

hydrocarbures, dlectricite.

par le

massif d’

l’agriculture

mining region and economy, with in a single chapter only.

marqui

structures

tion francaise (forte

which is the

dnergitique

une grande maitrise de la bibl~ographie

The extensive

discussion of the 1968 elec.

sont en augmenta-

que et sociale d’un pays tout entier exige

le renouveau

mainstay

va de pair

(6 % par an) et ceci boule-

pansion a renforcd

mental de I’evolution

all important

de la documentation

4.56 p., f 5.00.

Dresser le tableau de la giographie

merits only slightly more than half a page. is not warranted

ensuite des analyses

Dans chacun de ces chapitres

France:

ouvrage qu’il consacre i la France.

and a similar shortcoming

tions (22 & 23),

Modern

Geography.

and tribal migrations

the chapter

before

I. 8. (1970):

that as

at only 47 years.

man receives a lavish attention

dconomique

et au niveau

declin du charbon et l’emploi A Social and Economic

the

1969 was estimated

there is an inadequate

Mr.

une synthZse

de la planification

verse le s&me THOMPSON,

of their history.

presente d’abord

tion constante

with

of diseases and that of malnutrition

the portrayal

de’taille les

&conomique.

Les besoins energetiques

the length

in Zambia

partie (pp. 69-200) de I’activitd

avec la mise en evidence d’idde g&&ales.

Due to the

rather lightly considering

d’oti une augmen-

intraurbaines.

rggionai, Viennent

that

Geography,

Cette

plutot que par la

francaise au niveau national sectorielles.

merits a more exhaustive

independent

tation des densitis

THOMPSON

in the

climate,

sans encore

Paris-province.

suburbaine

de I’evolution Louis J. MIHALYI

the result the life expectency

thorough

of the Third

Le reseau

rapidement

creation de villes nouvelles, La deuxiCme

discussion than provided.

economy,

of persons in different

i’extension

fondements

of the dry season together

reliability

On the topics of Human

would

and should be use-

volumes provide a brief geographical

text

habitants.

le desiquilibre

walks of life. This work and its companion

of part of the

Valley.

of Zambia’s

and influence

pioration

ful to a large number

effacer

resources

{9). It is unfortunate

group of the Luangwa

colonial

topics in a simple and

manner,

i 200.000

croissance urbaine s’est faite sur la base de

chose vertisoils as a major soil

characteristics

is treated

for

125.000

urbain se transforme

The geological

errors are also apparent

map of “Soils”

problem

numerous

straightforward

welcome

in several respects. Most notable

6angweuiu

rainfall

to

studies in spite of the above omis-

presenting

(S), and the supporting

is the mistaken Numerous

timber

by the geo-

contribution

of im-

resources apart

neglected.

and it is a notable

African

mines should have also

have been similarly

grapher,

associa-

animal species. A comprehensive

map showing the mineral

Zumbiu in Mops will be welcomed

16173

ex-

dans le conPour ce faire il

le ddcoupage

regional de la

des regions-programme.

Or les limites de ces regions sont souvent arbitraires,

likes d des dispositions

de celui de la nation entibre; les faux les

stratives et cela fait &later

plus forts sont obtenus par les villes de

ensembles geographiques.

admini-

I’unlte des grands Mais, par ailleurs,