Lukács László (szerk.): Märkte und Warenaustausch im Pannonischen Raum - István Király Múzeum közelményei. A. sorozat 28. (Székesfehérvár, 1988)
Marta Sigmundová - Ján Botík: Economic Diaries as a Source of Study of the Exhange of Goods in a Peasant Environment
incomes. The most significant item of income on the farm of Juraj Kovác was represented by the products of animal husbandry standing at almost 63% of the annual total income (2.539 forints). This item includes not only the returns from the sale of animals but also those from various animal products such as meat, bacon, hide and wool. It is surprising what a small amount of corn was sold on the farm of Juraj Kovác. This does not mean that they had grown a small quantity, as at that period they had sold for a relatively high price (200 forints). It may be assumed, however, that in the first half of the 19th century they still put a greater emphasis, as a result of the preceding years, on animal production as compared with the growing of cereals, which was mostly done for one’s own use in Békés region. It could also be connected with the individual farming orientation of Juraj Kovác who evidently.ranked among the progressively orientated farmers in his village. He was a member of the village council. His progressive outlook was manifested also by the fact that instead of cereals he was growing lucerne seed for the needs of market, for which he had obtained a considerable amount of money (106,5 forints) . The incomes from the products of plan and animal production on the farm of Ján Hucok were almost equal (49,9 % and 47,5 %). The assortment of products sold was also richer and more varied. In comparison with the farm of Juraj Kovác, Ján Hucok’s farm had the highest income from wheat and this item formed almost 40,8 % of the annual total income. For Juraj Kovác the total of all incomes from the products of plant production represented only 23,3 %. Table 2 shows that in the first third of the 20th century the sale of cereals did not represent a single market activity either, but was distributed evenly throughout the year and was sometimes included in several market activities .in each month. This allowed us to make a survey of the movement of prices; they were lowest in October - November and highest in January - February. Unfortunately, one cannot state the position occupied by the sale of cereals from these records. The expenditure situation of the peasant farming was characterized by these two fundamental areas: expenditure for the purchase of goods and expenditure for the purchese of labour forces. There were also charges for interest and taxes, official charges, payments for health and cultural services. The fact that in both farmsteads payments for manpower prevailed indicates the overall low level of industrial production, and consequently a widespread significance for craftsmen’s production in both localities as well as at both periods. The most extensive and most varied group was represented by articles required in farm and household. Within the years examined, neither of these farms bought any expensive agricultural machine. Expenses demonstrate the running costs of the farming inventory. The farmars were mostly purchasing accessories for the plough (ploughshare, coulter,plough wheels), small agricultural implements (spade, scythe, rake handle, stakes for stretchers). More outlay went on means of transport (purchase and repair of parts of sledges and carriages) as well as on harness for draught animals. There are numarous records of the purchase of complete sets of narness, called -stverne, or their parts - halters, bits, leading-reins, ropes, strings. Thera is an interesting record in Juraj Kovác ’s accounts which shows that he paid for smith’s work once every half year, whereas he was purchasing separately items like nails for horse163
