Molotchnaia Department of the Russian Emperor Society of Fruit Growing

Abstract

The article studies the history of the foundation and the first years of activity of the Molochnaia Department (1904 – 1919) of the “Emperor Russian Society of Fruit Growing” (ERSFG). It was founded in the Mennonite colonies of the Black Sea region. The society extended its activity to Berdyansk and Melitopol districts of Tavrida gubernia. The author pays special attention to P. P. Vibe`s activity, who was the head of the Department. Industrial gardening began its developing in Russia after the abolition of serfdom and it was one of the forms of the former landlord farms modernization. It required special knowledge, special organization of farmkeeping, maintenance of gardens and nurseries assortment. It was considered as a prospective branch of agriculture development. Molochnaia department was set up to develop and spread industrial fruit growing among the colonists. Despite the fruit growing had a long tradition in the southern colonies, it had been focused on personal needs of local farms before. The attempts to introduce some new forms of management can be considered as one of the ways to intensify agriculture and expand its structure. Gardening could also solve the problem of landlessness. Despite it required less land space than crops growing gardening was a reliable source of income. The Molochnaia Department became one of the most important subdivisions of ERSFG that took active part in the exhibition activities and held local exhibitions of fruit and trees for educational purposes. It offered study program for the population where the students could learn modern agrotechniques. They also published important informative articles in local newspapers. To develop its own gardens and nurseries the Department relied on the assistance of ERSFG and Zemstvos. At the period of First World War the Molochnaia Department was actively involved into army and hospitals supplying. However, anty-German legislation prevented its activities. They had to close the nursery and give up educational programs. The Department stopped its activity during the Civil War.