Saruman's economic infrastructure unexplained? - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

The Elf-warrior · 05-26-2005, 12:31 PM

Saruman did grow some food in the area. From Chapter 8 of Book III:

Quote:

Beneath the walls of Isengard there still were acres tilled by the slaves of Saruman; but most of the valley had become a wilderness of weeds and thorns.

A_Brandybuck · 05-27-2005, 12:43 AM

I think there is no doubt, that the food, which is cultivated in Isengard, is not enough for the thousands of orcs and similiar things.
In the meantime I doubt, that the food came the whole way from Mordor to Isengard. It is too risky for them. Such a supplying could be easily discovered by the 'enemy'.
What is about the theory about the 'lands' beyond the gap of Rohan? He could have bought the food in this lands. From the Dunlendings or later from the Shire (like the tobacco).

Or I remember, that I read somewhere, that there is the possibility to cultivate some food on plains in the mountains (I mean the Dwarves did that). Saruman could have lied his acres in Isengard idle to give noone the possibiliy to be suspicious. Instead of cultivate in Isengard, his could have 'out-sourced' the production of food to the near mountains.

Gil-Galad · 05-27-2005, 06:39 AM

hmmm... maybe he found a stash of welath in the tower and used to to buy his food from the shire... oh i just thought of something, Saruman could have got his food from Rohan because he wasn't at war with them yet, so he could have got the supplies he needed from them...maybe even gondor...keep in mind that Saruman was not originally evil

05-27-2005, 12:43 AM	#2
A_Brandybuck Haunting Spirit Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 95	I think there is no doubt, that the food, which is cultivated in Isengard, is not enough for the thousands of orcs and similiar things. In the meantime I doubt, that the food came the whole way from Mordor to Isengard. It is too risky for them. Such a supplying could be easily discovered by the 'enemy'. What is about the theory about the 'lands' beyond the gap of Rohan? He could have bought the food in this lands. From the Dunlendings or later from the Shire (like the tobacco). Or I remember, that I read somewhere, that there is the possibility to cultivate some food on plains in the mountains (I mean the Dwarves did that). Saruman could have lied his acres in Isengard idle to give noone the possibiliy to be suspicious. Instead of cultivate in Isengard, his could have 'out-sourced' the production of food to the near mountains. __________________ „I don't know half of you half as well as I should like, and I like less than half of you half as well as you deserve."

05-27-2005, 06:39 AM	#3
Gil-Galad Psyche of Prince Immortal Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Above a Parapet Obvious exits are: North, South, and Dennis Posts: 4,734	hmmm... maybe he found a stash of welath in the tower and used to to buy his food from the shire... oh i just thought of something, Saruman could have got his food from Rohan because he wasn't at war with them yet, so he could have got the supplies he needed from them...maybe even gondor...keep in mind that Saruman was not originally evil __________________ Love doesn't blow up and get killed.