Public Initiatives in the Search for Rational Agricultural Methods in the XVIII Century

The article is devoted to public initiatives in the field of searching for rational agricultural techniques in the 18th century. This was the initial period of accumulation of agronomic experience, systematization of domestic agricultural and scientific knowledge and the first attempts at agricultural education of farmers. The authors trace the history of the accumulation of knowledge in the field of agronomy, touching upon the most productive experiments in agriculture, crop production, and horticulture. They analyze rational agricultural techniques proposed by P. A. Demidov, A.K. Razumovsky, V.N. Tatishchev, M.I. Afonin, I.M. Komov, A.A. Samborsky, A.T. Bolotov (whose names were not randomly chosen). The authors argue that the works of I.M. Komov can be called an encyclopedia of original Russian agriculture, and A.T. Bolotov laid the foundation for a whole complex of sciences on agriculture and crop production. The article also deals with the activities of the Free Economic Society (FES), which played a major role in the development of the agricultural education system. The authors highlight the most significant activities of the FES aimed at disseminating agricultural scientific knowledge: announcing competitive tasks, awarding prizes, surveying landowners, collecting statistical information, encouraging the use of new technology, and publishing the results of scientific research. The authors note that the idea of scientific support for agricultural production was first expressed by the encyclopedist M.V. Lomonosov. Among the measures to improve agricultural production, he considered the main ones to be the study and promotion through the press of best practices, support for agricultural initiatives, the creation of an experimental base, and the introduction of new tools. These ideas about the role of science in the agricultural modernization of the country were further developed in the 18th century and remain relevant today.