Uvjeti umnog gospodarenja: Pokušaj popularizacije agrikulturne kemije

Conditions of mental management: An attempt to popularize agricultural chemistry by Ilija Bošnjaka was published in 1906 in Križevci by Gustav Neuberger. The book was edited and published by Milan Metelka. It is the first significant work of the young Ilija Bošnjak (Metković, 1882 – Zagreb, 1975), who graduated from the Higher School of Economics in Križevci in the same year.

The work represents an early attempt to popularize the scientific knowledge of agricultural (agricultural) chemistry among the broad classes - above all, peasants, more advanced economic self-taught students and students of lower agricultural schools. Bosniak tries to explain in an accessible way the chemical processes in the soil, plant nutrition, fertilization, the influence of nutrients and the conditions for rational, "smart" management of agricultural goods.

The title "Mind management" emphasizes the transition from the traditional, empirical way of cultivating the land to scientifically based, rational agriculture based on chemical laws. The book deals with topics such as soil formation, feeding green plants, the role of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and other elements, and rational fertilization. The goal was to raise the level of knowledge of the Croatian peasantry and to contribute to an increase in yields at a time when agriculture was the basis of the economy.

Ilija Bošnjak later became a reputable chemist, oenologist and one of the leading popularizers of agricultural chemistry in South Slavic countries. After Križevci, he studied chemistry in Montpellier, specialized in viticulture and oenology, and worked as an expert in Dalmatia, Serbia and Belgrade. This first book heralds his later work (Foundations of Prudent Management, Composition and Preparation of Bilin Food, Heavy Chemistry and others).

The work is written in a clear, popular style, suitable for readers without deep scientific background, which was a rarity at that time. Criticism (eg in Gospodarski list) received it positively as a useful manual for practitioners.

Conditions of mental management is an important document of the early 20th century - it testifies to the efforts to bring science closer to practice in Croatian agriculture, in the period of modernization and the struggle for higher productivity. Today it is a rare and valuable bibliographic edition that reflects the beginnings of Bošnjak's long-term mission to popularize chemistry in the service of agriculture.