Torsello, Davide - Pappová, Melinda: Social Networks in Movement. Time, interaction and interethnic spaces in Central Eastern Europe - Nostra Tempora 8. (Somorja-Dunaszerdahely, 2003)
Time and social networks
Traditional economic life 95 the background, first in Vlčany, where pastures were few. On grazing grounds in Neded, villagers also accepted animals from other villages, thus also from Vlčany. Vegetable growing and the extremely expanded marketing, carriage and goods exchange had a great influence on husbandry. As a consequence, horse-raising in particular grew significantly. Those, who in Vlčany and in Neded had at least one hectare of land, could live off of vegetable growing. Those who “moved a lot", i.e. were very active in trade attending local markets, were well off. “When everyone will stay at home in Neded and Vlčany, that will mean the end of the world,” people used to say. Until the 1950s, apart from big landholders possessing thirty or more holds12, all members of the different economic groups (small-holders with two horses, poor farmers with only one horse, tenants and the bag-trading destitute), used to attend the markets and barter. This activity went on through the whole year, except in the coldest winter days and in the busy periods, such as during spring sowing, harvesting or threshing. This trading and bartering activity spread not only over the northern part of the Danube Lowland and the Danube region reaching Budapest, but also, to a lesser extent, over the Transdanubian region, from Győr to lower Bakony (in Hungary). The most frequented market places were naturally towns and villages of northern part of the Danube Lowland and of the Danubian region, from Komárno to Budapest. Because of the lack of roads and the bad conditions of those existing, until 1918 it was more convenient to travel on the Váh river, sailing on small ships or barges. In the beginning of the 20th century, the number of barges in Vlčany ranged from thirty to fifty, in Neded it reached eighty. The so-called barge-trading was also popular. Its direction was the region along the Danube and the Váh, where it supplied settlements with vegetables within a 4-5 km distance from the riverside. Eight researchers took part in the survey in Vlčany and Neded. The results of this research were presented in October 23, 2001 in Neded and we hope to publish the collected material soon.
