Theodor Reuning

Theodor Reuning (born February 19, 1807 in Bingenheim , Hesse; † August 3, 1876 in Cunnersdorf near Dresden) was a German civil servant responsible for all areas of agriculture in the Kingdom of Saxony.

Live and act

Reuning, son of a pastor, studied law at the University of Giessen from 1824 to 1828 . During his studies he became a member of Corps Vandalia I in 1826 . After completing his studies, he worked in the legal civil service, from 1832 in the secretariat of the Agricultural Association of Upper Hesse and from 1836 as administrator of the count's property. In 1844 he became managing director of the main agricultural association of the Kingdom of Saxony. In this function he played a major role in the restructuring of the agricultural organizations in Saxony. In 1850, the Saxon State Government appointed him Secretary General of the Agricultural Associations of Saxony and at the same time Government Commissioner for all agricultural matters. He thus became the decisive decision maker for the measures to promote Saxon agriculture.

By consistently advocating a regulated crop rotation management , Reuning was able to introduce numerous innovations in the practice of agriculture. Under his aegis, the cultivation of forage plants in Saxony increased considerably. In addition, Reuning promoted the cultivation of flax and other, so far little-known crops. He paid great attention to the improvement system . He promotes animal breeding and husbandry through a variety of measures . So he motivated Saxon animal breeders to carry out crossbreeding experiments with imported pig and sheep breeds from England and Scotland. He was also significantly involved in the establishment of the agricultural research station in Möckern near Leipzig in 1851.

Reuning was very familiar with the new findings of the natural sciences, which are important for agriculture. In essays and with several book publications, he tried to bring this knowledge closer to farmers and to give them concrete instructions on how to put elementary scientific principles into practice. “Farmer, learn to think!” Was one of his favorite utterances. Reuning was not only a supporter and disseminator of the agricultural chemistry teachings of Justus von Liebig , he was also close friends with Liebig. Both exchanged a lot of letters. These letters, which were only published after Reuning's death, are among the most valuable documents in the scientific history of agriculture. They provide instructive insights into the “Sturm und Drang period” of agricultural chemistry and convey a vivid picture of the issues of time and controversy of this eventful epoch.

In 1867 he was elected to the constituent Reichstag of the North German Confederation .

For health reasons, Reuning had to resign from his position as general secretary in 1869. Until his death, however, he remained government commissioner for the agricultural research stations in Saxony. For his services to agriculture he was awarded several medals. The Philosophical Faculty of the University of Leipzig made him an honorary doctorate in 1855 . The Board of Trustees of the Liebig Foundation awarded him the Golden Liebig Medal in 1871 , the highest award for supporters of agriculture in Germany at the time. The text of the award document characterizes his life's work with the following words: “For many years you have endeavored with restless zeal and tireless perseverance to put the scientific principles of agriculture into practice. In the struggle against prejudice and ignorance you have always held up the flag of scientific progress and carried it forward. They have not grown tired of constantly paving new paths in practice for the truth gained through scientific research. "

Fonts (selection)

• The development of the Saxon agriculture 1845-1854 . Dresden 1856.
• Justus von Liebig and the experience. A contribution to the fertilizer question . Dresden 1861.
• Agricultural letters about England . Dresden 1862.
• Means and ways to further promote the Saxon agriculture . Dresden 1873.

literature

• Correspondence between Justus von Liebig and Theodor Reuning on agricultural issues from the years 1854 to 1873 . Edited by Reinhold Echtermeyer and Georg von Liebig. Dresden 1884.
• Bruno Schöne : Theodor Reuning . In: Saxon Life Pictures. Volume 1, 1930, pp. 333-344 (with picture).
• Herbert Pönicke : Dr. Theodor Reuning, the pioneer of Saxon agriculture . In: New archive for Saxon history and antiquity. Volume 56, 1935, pp. 169-200 (with picture).

Individual evidence

1. ^ Paul Wentzcke : Fraternity lists. Second volume: Hans Schneider and Georg Lehnert: Gießen - The Gießener Burschenschaft 1814 to 1936. Görlitz 1942, G. Vandalia. No. 12.

Web links

• Theodor Reuning in the database of members of the Reichstag