Estók János szerk.: A Magyar Mezőgazdasági Múzeum Közleményei 2005-2007 (Budapest, 2007)

MÚZEUMTÖRTÉNETI TANULMÁNYOK - Fehér György: A Magyar Mezőgazdasági Múzeum alapítása és új épületének átadása

a permanent museum which was realized with the official opening of Vajdahunyad Castle on 9 June 1907. It is a remarkable fact that the supervisor, the Ministry of Agriculture, obliged the museum to present everything that 'bears interest and importance to Hungarian agriculture and from which Hungarian agriculture, horti- and viticulture and forestry can draw dependable and practical lessons'. In the few decades following its foundation the institution did not undertake traditional museum activities (collecting, presentation), but could be regarded as a practical venue of presentation and instruction, where interested visitors could learn about the contemporary and up-to-date procedures of virtually all segments of agricultural production. A portion of the current, several hundred thousand strong museum stock had been destroyed due to catastrophes (fires, war damage) but thanks to donations and planned collecting it still gives a unique presentation of the history of Hungarian agriculture. Its collections include a steam locomobile which was taken to Hungary in 1852 as well as a wide spectrum of Hungarian and foreign-made agricultural tools and machines. Visitors and professionals alike are impressed by the worldfamous trophy collection, which offers a chronological presentation of once or currently world record setting stag, fallow deer, roe and boar trophies. A great asset of the museum is the collection of those wheat varieties that dominated European markets in the 19th century and the interwar period. The same consideration is given to the collection of Hungarian Grey cattle skulls, a breed which was highly popular in foreign markets during the 16th-18th centuries. Highly elaborate handcrafted sets of harness, a great number of hunting weapons and the exceptionally rich array of vini- and viticultural accessories are also held in great esteem.