Takáts Rózsa (szerk.): „A' gasdasági kormány - írta egy aradi” - 1830. Bartosságh József (1782-1843) kézirata a Magyar Mezőgazdasági Múzeumban - Mezőgazdaságtörténeti tanulmányok 12. (Budapest, 2014)
Képek jegyzéke
Abstract A manuscript written by József Bartosságh, the excellent agricultural expert writer of the early 19th century, under the alias 'An Arad Citizen’, had been in the possession of the Manuscript Collection of the Museum of Hungarian Agriculture for several decades. The identification of the author was made possible by the assistance of historian András Vári. who examined the conditions of 19th century farming professionals in several essays. The works of Bartosságh were mainly published in German. It is possible that the 19th century estate agent, a member of the professional class, had not published his work because (being one of the organisers of the Apponyi Library in Pressburg) wanted to further polish its style. Nevertheless we felt it important to publish this work as it contains relevant and unique information concerning the author’s personality and activities, as well as the standards and organisation of contemporary farming, professional training, and its outstanding characters. The manuscript also contains autobiographical features and interesting everyday observations in abundance, represents the contemporary state of economics and includes moral-philosophical discussions. Its author, as he professed, also wanted to entertain his readership, and although Bartosságh’s usage and the state of early 19th century, pre-reform Hungarian makes it difficult reading, there are successful attempts at achieving a literary style. In terms of economic theory Bartosságh was a supporter of physiocracy, while his views on business economics were largely based on those of Albrecht Daniel Thaer, whom he refers to in one of his essays as 'father’ and as one 'who elevated farming to the level of science and through his numerous disciples gained immortal fame, renown and respect’ (Gazdasági Tudósítások [Farming Report], 1837, vol. 1, p. 104). In his manuscript he examines the economic structure of Hungary, discusses the tripartite nature of capital (existential, circulating and profit), and devotes several chapters to the theoretical and practical issues of agricultural business management (types of land ownership, the organisation and tools of estate management - accounts, records, types of wages and allowances -, and agricultural sectors). As he remarks at one point, he aims these practical suggestions at his fellow farmers, and also asks them to 'regard this my first step in our literature with friendly good grace’. This volume also includes a colour oil portrait of József Bartosságh, which was discovered recently and is only available in the Art Collection of the Museum of Hungarian Agriculture. József Bartosságh was the grandfather of Jenő Rodiczky (1844-1915), a farming academy lecturer, the founder and director of the National Wool Classification Institute, a world-renowned expert of sheep breeding and wool research, who donated the manuscript to the library of the Royal Museum of Hungarian Agriculture in 1915-16. 204
