Skeletal Branches Research Articles

Состояние посадок ясеня пенсильванского Fraxinus pennsylvanica Marsh в Московском регионе после инвазии ясеневой узкотелой златки Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire (Coleoptera, Buprestidae)

In 2017-2023 on the territory of Moscow region studied three types of plantings of Pennsylvania ash that survived the invasion of Agrilus planipennis in 2005-2012. All the trees damaged by the larvae A. planipennis. Most of the trees died (75%), the surviving trees remain the chronic ground of pests for twenty years. The surviving trees (25%) cropped, the assessment of their condition in 2017-2018 met the criterion of "weakened", in 2018-2023 – "severely weakened". The improvement in the condition of the trees in 2014-2018 replaced by a deterioration in 2021. Among the three types of plantings, the satisfactory condition of trees found in squares and multi–row plantings along streets, poor - in single-row plantings along streets. In the next decade most of the plantings along the streets degrade, other types of plantings remain. At the squares and parks of the center of the Moscow megalopolis, the trees partially restores the crown and partially overgrowing of old larval galleries on trunks. Damage by A. planipennis on multi-row plantings along highways provoked an outbreak of Leperesinus varius in 2006-2008. The synergy of A. planipennis and L. varius caused the rapid death of the Pennsylvania ash tree in the Moscow region. Trees trimmed to 1/3 of the crown and the "weakened" category live for at least 8 years, the "severely weakened" category – for at least 5 years. Removing from 1/3 to 2/3 of the crown is advisable only for trees of the "weakened" category. Removing more than 2/3 of the crown and topping with the removal of the top and skeletal branches leads to death of the tree. Keywords: GREEN ASH, EMERALD ASH BORER, HEALTH OF URBAN PLANTINGS

Some aspects of mechanical stability of centuries-old <i>Pinus pinea</i> L. trees growing in the Crimea

The paper considers the issues of assessing the mechanical stability and accident rate of the Italian pine, using the example of a 120 year-old tree growing in the conditions of the recreationally loaded territory of the A.P. Chekhov House-Museum in the city of Yalta, Republic of Crimea. It was found that the viability of the studied plant is 1 point – this is a healthy plant without damage to the trunk and crown. Biomechanical studies were carried out: the aboveground phytomass of the trunk of the tree under study and the main skeletal branches with needles were calculated, the physico-mechanical properties of tissues were determined and model calculations of the mechanical stability of the tree were performed. It was found that the dimensions of the main skeletal branches are separate independent trees, and the calculated weight is an additional static load on the trunk and under the action of a dynamic factor, which additionally reduces the critical load by ~ 20% and increases the accident rate of the entire tree. A large angle of inclination, taking into account the length of the branches, also increases the degree of accident. As a result, there is a shift in the center of mass and a tilt of the entire body with a high probability of falling out of the tree with the slab. To reduce the accident rate of a tree, it is necessary to trim the main branches and reduce the load on the trunk, taking into account the center of mass, and if it is impossible to carry out the necessary trimming, it is necessary to fix dangerous skeletal branches to metal structures.

Morpho-biological and economically valuable traits of a new apple variety Aksyona

The breeders of the Sverdlovsk breeding station of horticulture created a new apple variety Aksyona, which was included in the State Register of Breeding Achievements of the Russian Federation, approved for use on the territory of the Russian Federation in the Volga-Vyatka region in 2022. The parents of this variety are the Ural summer variety Serebryanoye Kopyttse and the donor of immunity to scab 22-40-67, created at Russian Research Institute of Fruit Crop Breeding. Hybridization was carried out in 1993. Studies of the new variety were carried out in 2001 - 2021 on the territory of the Sverdlovsk breeding station of horticulture . The average yield for 4 years of testing the Aksyona variety on the clonal rootstock 62-396 was 226.6 q/ha. This variety is immune to scab (Rvi6 gene), all three QTL FBF7 markers are present in its genotype, which suggests its resistance to fire blight disease. Variety Aksyona is heterozygous for two genes Md-ACO1 and Md-ACS1 and is of interest as an initial form in breeding for a low level of endogenous ethylene biosynthesis, which affects the duration of fruit storage. This variety showed high winter hardiness over the years of testing, has fruits of medium size (110 g), one-dimensional, round, regular shape, with a smooth surface, attractive appearance. The main color is light yellow, the integumentary coloration of the fruit is orange-red, blurry-striped. The skin is dry, matte. The pulp is creamy, medium density, fine-grained, juicy, good sweet and sour taste, with aroma. The ripening period is early summer, the period of consumption is 25 days. The tree is medium-sized, with a rounded crown of medium density, skeletal branches depart from the trunk at an angle close to a right one. The variety is early-growing, comes into fruiting in the fourth year after grafting. Authors of the variety: L.A. Kotov, T.A. Makarova.

Growth and development of species Syringa L. section Villosae C.K. Schneid. in the updated collection of the Botanical Garden of the Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences

The article is devoted to the study of the growth and development of Syringa species in the collection of the Botanical Garden of the Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences. Heights of Syringa L. of the Villosae section in various geographical areas are given. Growth indicators of seven-year-old plants of hairy lilac in 7 species were studied. The heights, volume and area of the crown projection were measured, the number of formation shoots (skeletal branches), the number of generative shoots and branching shoots of the 1st order were calculated, and the length and diameter of branching shoots were measured. Differences between the studied species are already significant at an early age. The best indicators were found in S. sweginzowii Koehne et Lingelsh. (h-1.51 m, number of branching shoots 218, generative shoots - 28); S. Henry Schneid. – 1.43; 193; nine; S. villosa Vahl. – 1.36; 140; 17; S. tomentella Bur. et Franch. – 1.33; 159; 13; S. komarovii Schneid. - 1.07; 133; 10; S. velutina Komar. – 1.25; 119; eleven; S. wolfii Schneid. – 1.15; 23; 8. The beginning of flowering was noted at the age of 5 in S. sweginzowii, other species from

Noise-Against Skeleton Extraction Framework and Application on Hand Gesture Recognition

Extracting stable skeletons from noisy images is a challenging problem since the skeletonization method is prone to be affected by inner and border noise. Although many methods have been proposed in the past for increasing the antinoise ability of skeletonization methods, most of them either only overcome border noise or, at the cost of lost topology, degrade the effects of two noises. In this paper, we propose a skeleton extraction framework to enhance the robustness of the existing skeletonization method against both inner and border noise. In our approach, we first use the different scales of Gaussian filters to smooth the input image and obtain multiple representations. Then, binarization and skeletonization were performed to produce a series of binary images and a series of skeletal images. Next, we use our measure on these binary and skeletal images to find the most suitable skeleton. Since our measure considers both the skeleton image changes and binary image changes caused by using a filter, the selected skeleton is sufficiently robust and has all the necessary skeletal branches. The inner noise experiment and border noise experiment are conducted for comparison. From the perspective of the measure of the rate of variation in the skeleton, the proposed framework can reduce the inner noise by approximately 92% and the border noise by approximately 40%. In addition, the experiment on static hand gesture recognition has demonstrated that the introduction of our framework can increase up to 11% mean recognition accuracy.

Taxation characteristics and life state of Quercus robur l. in various forest conditions in the Tunnel beam (Dnipro city)

Influence of forest conditions on the taxation characteristics and the vital state of Quercus robur L. was analyzed. The plants were planted on artificial plantations laid in a tunnel beam in the city of Dnipro in 1961. The experimental plots was located in thalweg (mesohygrophilic conditions – L3) and on the slope of the northern exposure (mesoxerophilic conditions – L1). The 301 specimen of Q. robur L. trees grow on the slope (SG1), and 357 specimen in the thalweg beam was found. The oak trees of three morphological races were planted in tunnel beam: Q. r. pectinata Schneid, Q. r. longiloba Lash, Q. r. Laciniata Schneid. The Q. r. pectinata Schneid are dominate: in the thalweg – 82.70 % (SG3), on the slope (SG1) – 78.60 %. It was found, that in talweg the plants have a larger average height and average trunk diameter. In mesohygrophilic conditions more plants are assigned to the last two classes of height (16.1–18.0 and 18.1–20.0 m), than in mesoxerophilic. The tallest trees grows in thalweg. There are 22 m heigh, and on the slope – 19.5 m. In accordance with calculations, the average height of trees in thalweg is 16 m; on the slope it is 14 m, diameter 42 cm and 32 cm, respectively. Most of the trees in the the experimental plots are in the category of vitality state: healthy tree. There are more such trees in mesohygrophilic conditions than in mesoxerophilic ones (76.40 and 63.90 %, respectively). Weakened trees on the slope of the beam are 32.70 on the slope of the beam, and in the thalweg 17.40 %. The vital status index of oak plantations on the slope is 88.0 %, and in the talwez – 91.0 %. There is no fresh dead wood and dead wood of previous years on the experimental plots. The indeх of the vitality state of the planting in mesohygrophilic conditions is higher, than in mesoxerophilic conditions. Favorable conditions of water supply conduced to the better growth of branches shoots and leaves on them. Tree pathologies are more common on the slope of the beam in mesoxerophilic growth conditions. The analysis of oak trees damage shown, that the largest part falls on the dry top of slope. There are no fungus cup and tumors on the trunks, only one tree with excrescence was found. Such trunk pathologies as inclination, curvature, multi-stemmeds and dryness of thick skeletal branches was revealed. There were much less of trunk pathologies in mesoxerophilic conditions.

THE ANNUAL CYCLE OF DIFFERENTIATION OF THE RUDIMENTS OF PEACH FLOWERS AFTER THE SEVERE WINTER OF 2020-2021

The article sets the timeframe for the main phenological stages of peach, as well as the required amount of effective temperatures above +5 °C for their passing and growing season length based on the example of the variety of Belarusian selection Loiko.
 The terms of the beginning of an organogenesis of flower rudiments after a severe winter and damage of generative buds, 
 skeletal branches are outlined. The peculiarities of the differentiation process during the growing season and the required amounts of effective temperatures for each stage of flower organogenesis in the central zone of Belarus are presented.
 The data obtained show that in late November the process of differentiation in most generative buds stops at stage VII b
 with a well-defined rudiment of the pistil and its clear differentiation into stigma and style. In the case of thawing during the winter, the process of organogenesis does not stop, and in February the development of flower buds in the generative buds
 reaches stage VIII with the formation of the ovary and the growth of stamens with anthers of characteristic shape.

Forest pathological monitoring of different types protective planting in Lower Volga region

In maintaining the material and energy balance of dry-steppe and semi-desert ecosystems, the main active component is forest-reclamation complexes of various purposes. In addition to environmental stabilization and other economic functions, protective plantings are also reserves of regional biodiversity. Research was carried out on permanent test sites in dendrological collections and protective forest stands of the Federal Research Center of Agroecology of RAS, as well as in recreational and landscaping plantings using route and stationary methods in different types of forest plantations that differ in condition, level of anthropogenic impact and maintenance regime. The assessment of the forest pathology status of stands was carried out using standard methods and in accordance with the current guidelines for forest pathology survey of plantings and forest pathology monitoring. It was found that in the spectrum of the examined plants, the most prosperous state of the dendroflora is distinguished by arboretums and forest belts. Urban plantings are dominated by severely weakened and shrinking trees (up to 80.0%). The main pathologies in them were shrunken tops and skeletal branches, xylophages, diseases of foliage, wood and trunks. The least pronounced anomalies of woody plants in forest belts (10.7-22.0% lower than in other types of plantings).

STRATEGY FOR COMBATING BACTERIAL BURN OF FRUIT CROPS IN KAZAKHSTAN

On the basis of many years of research, a strategy for combating fire blight was developed, including a set of measures aimed at reducing the infectious load in gardens, curbing the intensity of pathogen reproduction, and increasing plant resistance to disease. On the basis of this strategy, a complex of control measures was developed, including the autumn pruning of affected organs in accordance with quarantine requirements, whitewashing of trunks and skeletal branches with lime with the addition of 4 % copper sulfate and spraying with the fungicide Cosside 2000, v.d. (3 kg/ha); in the spring, prophylactic spraying with the same fungicide before bud break; during the flowering period, double spraying with biological preparations of Fitolavin, VRK (2 l/ha); after flowering, during the period of ovary abscission, double spraying with growth regulator Regalis plus (d.v. prohexadione calcium), 1,25 kg/ha. A production test has shown that complex measures developed on the basis of a fire blight control strategy effectively suppress the disease at the site of infection. The biological efficiency was 97.5 % with an increase in yield 36.2 %.

ОСОБЕННОСТИ ВНЕШНЕГО ПРОЯВЛЕНИЯ ПАТОЛОГИЙ НА МЯГКОЛИСТВЕННЫХ ПОРОДАХ

This paper analyzes the patterns of weakening of soft-wooded broadleaved species, provides the frequency of occurrence of the most common external signs of pathologies and their relationship with the general condition of trees. It was found that the most common pathological sign in soft-wooded broadleaved species is drying out of branches (58.2% of the surveyed trees), followed by breakage of skeletal branches (14.9%) and the presence of thick skeletal branches in the crown (14.4% ). Further, as the occurrence of signs decreases, we see trunk inclination of varying degrees (13.9%), where inclination of up to 30° prevails, various pathologies of the trunk shape (12.9%), the most frequent among which was the bifurcation of the trunk, bending of the trunk relative to the normal axis of the tree (7%) and fruiting bodies of wood-destroying fungi (4.1%). Small-leaved linden (Tilia cordata Mill.) was the most stable species in the surveyed plantation, on which the least number of pathological signs was recorded. The revealed features of the external manifestation of pathologies will make it possible to determine the category of the tree state more accurately and increase objectivity and reliability of forest pathological examinations

ХРОНОГРАФИЧЕСКАЯ ИЗМЕНЧИВОСТЬ ФИТОМАССЫ ЯБЛОНИ, ВЫРАЩИВАЕМОЙ В СТЛАНЦЕВОЙ ФОРМЕ В ПРИГОРОДНОЙ ЗОНЕ КРАСНОЯРСКА

The article presents the results of studies of the aboveground phytomass of domestic apple (Malus domestica Borkh) at 14-year and 113-year biological age, which were carried out on the basis of Krutovsky Botanical Garden in the suburban area of Krasnoyarsk. The features of phytomass distribution by fractional composition have been established for the first time for apple trees grown in Siberia in prostrate shrub form. From 10 to 13 leaves with an average area of 26 cm2 and an absolutely dry weight of 0.34 g are formed on the annual shoots of prostrate shrub apple trees. During the formation of fruit trees in the form of "Krasnoyarsk prostrate shrub", three or four main skeletal branches are left. The average model branch of a 14-year-old tree has a length of 3.4 m and a diameter of 7.6 cm at the point of attachment to the trunk; its weight is 1.4 kg in an absolutely dry state. The aboveground phytomass of a tree is 9.7 kg (on average) in an absolutely dry state. At the same time, leaves account for 12% of the aboveground phytomass, stem - 16.6%, branches - 71.4%. With regular pruning of the crown to maintain the prostrate shrub form of cultivation in Krutovsky Botanical Garden, by the age of 14, the phytomass of the crown decreases by 30-33%. The average model branch in a 113-year-old apple tree, when grown in prostrate shrub form, has a length of 6.4 m and a diameter at the base of 26.7 cm. Its weight in an absolutely dry state is 51.9 kg. The phytomass of the aboveground part of a 113-year-old apple tree averages 164 kg in an absolutely dry state, being distributed by fractions: 1.8% (leaves), 3.4% (stem) and 94.8% (branches), respectively

Parameters of oscillations the holding handles of the manual vibro-impact fruit shaker

Annotation Purpose. Improving the efficiency of the manual vibro-impact fruit shaker by studying the parameters of oscillations of the handles during the operating mode of shaking to justify the maximum accelerations that can be transmitted to the hands of the worker. Methods. The main provisions of laboratory and field experiments using modern measuring equipment for measuring accelerations are used. Results. The parameters of oscillations of the holding handles of the manual vibrating shock shaker of fruits are investigated. The method of measuring local accelerations transmitted to the hands of the employee has been improved. It is proposed to use accelerometers ANS 114-02, which are attached with adhesive tape to the holding handles of the shaker along the x and y axes of the orthogonal coordinate system. The y-axis is directed in the direction of oscillation and coincides with the longitudinal axis of symmetry of the handles, and the x-axis – along the forearm of the worker perpendicular to the y-axis. The estimation of the admissibility of the total vibration on the shaker handles was carried out according to the method, which consists in determining the root mean square values of the accelerations of longitudinal-vertical oscillations in the frequency bands up to 31.5 Hz. The oscillating loads on the handles of the manual fruit shaker operating in the vibro-shock mode are investigated. At the same time, local oscillations of non-constant action are transferred to the hands of the worker during working hours. The studies were performed at the highest perturbing forces in the range of operating shaking frequencies of 40–100 rad/s (6.37–15.92 Hz) on skeletal branches with a diameter of 90 mm at the base. Frequency-adjusted root mean square accelerations on the holding handles do not exceed the allowable values. Conclusions. Oscillatory loads on the hands of the worker through the handles, ensuring the retention of the manual vibratory shock shaker, do not exceed the allowable short-term local oscillations on the adjusted values of the root mean square acceleration and are: along the y-axis – 2.47 m/s2 (78.3 dB); along the x-axis perpendicular to the y-axis – 0.63 m/s2 (66.4 dB). Keywords: manual fruit shakers, holding handles, local oscillations, acceleration.

A RECORD OF RHODODENDRON SCHLIPPENBACHII (ERICACEAE) IN THE VICINITY OF NAKHODKA CITY (PRIMORYE TERRITORY)

A new location of the rare plant – Rhododendron schlippenbachii, listed in the Red Data Book of Russia, in the vicinity of Nakhodka City is reported. It is the most eastern point of this species in the Primorye Territory. This species was previously known only in the Khasansky district. On test area of 160 m2, with geographic coordinates N42.7849 °, E132.8204 °, in the oak forest with an undergrowth of Lespedeza bicolor at the top of the west slope registered 10 of generative plants. The plants are well developed (their sizes are 2,5 m in height, the shrub contain 3–6 skeletal branches) and bloom profusely. Found seed regeneration.

ПРОБЛЕМА ВЫЯВЛЕНИЯ И НАЗНАЧЕНИЯ В РУБКУ АВАРИЙНЫХ ДЕРЕВЬЕВ НА ТЕРРИТОРИИ ГОСЛЕСФОНДА

Abstract The studies to determine the qualitative and quantitative characteristics of pathologies on trees have carried out as a part of a survey of plantations along the Big Voronezh ecological trail. These characteristics are not taken into account in the guidance documents, but in fact they define these trees as emergency ones. In addition to stem rot and dangerous trunk slope, recommended by the instructions, trees with butt hollows, cancerous tumors on the trunk, splitting of the trunk and shriveled skeletal branches were taken into account. The collected material and its analysis showed that (in case of accounting for trees with such pathologies) the number of trees classified as emergency can increase by 62%. Among additional pathologies, butt hollows take the leading position. It is indicated that there is a number of pathologies fatal for trees found in other types of plantations (in addition to these pathologies characteristic of oak stands). It is concluded that the modern technique for identifying emergency trees is not perfect, since it does not take into account a significant number of tree pathologies that increase the likelihood of tree breaking off or falling out, which definitely makes such trees extremely dangerous.

Вплив системи догляду за кроною на декоративність і довговічність рослин сортів Syringa vulgaris L.

Досліджено вплив способів обрізування крони рослин Syringa vulgaris L. на їхню декоративність і довговічність. Встановлено, що досягти найкращого результату можна тільки за регулярного догляду за кроною. Спонукає до цього, щонайперше, дихотомічне (несправжнє) гілкування, за яким кожна однорічна гілка продукує навесні два пагони з верхівкової пари бруньок та ще кілька – з бруньок, що розташовані нижче по осі цієї гілки. Отже, щороку загальна їхня кількість щонайменше потроюється. Коренева система не зможе за цей час збільшити в таких обсягах свою масу і фізіологічну активність, що корелятивно спричиняє значне зменшення розмірів пагонів і суцвіть. Якщо догляд був нерегулярний або відсутній, виникає потреба інтенсивного прорідження або кардинального омолодження крони. Доведено, що цими заходами можна поліпшити декоративність рослин, але на довговічність вони вплинуть негативно. Зумовлює це дві причини. Перша – запобігання ран внаслідок видалення гілок на кільце. Встановлено, що навіть 1,5-2,0-сантиметрові зрізи на стовбурі чи скелетних гілках ніколи не загояться, а за 10-15 років їхня деревина струхліє, утворивши порожнину. Деревина великих ран руйнується швидше, що призводить до виникнення дупел та повільного відмирання всієї рослини. Другою причиною вкорочення довговічності є раптово порушений функціональний корелятивний коренево-листковий зв'язок, що є наслідком різкого зменшення в омолодженій рослині надземної частини. Спочатку це призведе до сповільнення фотосинтезу (крона майже відсутня), а потім, корелятивно, й до затухання кореневого синтезу: через мізерне надходження асимілятів до коренів. Унаслідок цього загальна маса фізіологічно активної частини кореневої системи теж значно зменшиться, що негативно вплине на довговічність рослини загалом. Декоративність кущів через це з року в рік погіршується. Також встановлено, що до обрізування крони змушує й загущена посадка бузків. Для відновлення її декоративності спочатку варто видалити кволі рослини, а в решти – знизити крону приблизно на третину аби наблизити її до кореневої системи, що забезпечить рослинам фізичну витривалість та дещо внормує в них функціональний коренево-листковий зв'язок. Здійснити цей захід треба якомога раніше в часовому вимірі, бо, окрім згаданого, рослини почнуть страждати й від хвороб. Потужні гілки потрібно вкорочувати, а не вирізати на кільце, аби не нанести стовбурам і гілкам першого порядку великих ран. За такого підходу до обрізування крони бузки будуть декоративними й здебільшого випадків – довговічними.

Role of Dormant Buds in Crown Architecture in Coniferous and Deciduous Trees of the Temperate Zone

The goal of this study is to investigate the localization of dormant buds and the features of the structures arising from the buds in coniferous and deciduous trees in response to age-related changes and various growing conditions. The crown is analyzed using architectural models and the reiteration concept. It is found that the dormant buds in deciduous trees are usually at the bases of annual growth. The dormant buds in conifers are at the bases of annual growth, in the axils of bud scales, or along the entire length of the shoot in the axils of needles and in the shoot distal part. It is revealed that the terminal buds of short shoots can function as dormant buds. The natural aging of skeletal axes is an endogenous factor of the development of shoots from dormant buds in deciduous trees. In evergreen conifers, it is the plant’s response to needle aging. This leads to the induction of the growth of dormant buds and to the acropetal appearance of the buds on the mother axis in conifers. The reiterated complexes of deciduous trees form in response to the completion of the axis development cycle, which initiates dormant buds in the centripetal direction. The reiterated complexes of conifers look like bundles: such structures form due to the easy initiation of dormant buds, which leads to the formation of the shoots of other orders. The reiterated complexes of deciduous trees are characterized by prolonged growth, acrotonicic branching, and orthotropic growth direction. The crown of the old generative and senile deciduous trees consists almost entirely of reiterated complexes. It has been found that conifers have a different degree of participation of dormant buds in the crown formation, which can vary significantly within the same genus. The reiterated complexes of Picea abies (L.) Karst. replace small twigs. In some other species (for example, Picea schrenkiana Fisch. et E. Mey., Abies sibirica Ledeb., Pinussibirica Du Tour.), the reiterated complexes can also replace the skeletal branches extending from the trunk. No secondary crown is formed in Pinus sylvestris L.

Whiskey Boys

Whiskey Boys Phillip Hurst (bio) Back in 2005, the day after my final law school exams, I packed up my ratty clothing and dog-eared book collection and drove 2,200 miles from Nowheresville, Illinois, to Portland, Oregon, a city where I knew not a soul and had no prospects—a city shrouded by rains that linger between the Coastal and Cascade Ranges like a memory of unkind words, a city so green and soggy it seemed I might sprout roots, commence photosynthesis, and become a shambling mound of ferny ennui. In the months to follow, I bought a waterproof jacket, popped Prozac like Pez, went totally broke and a little crazy, but never quite acclimated to seeing Portlanders sip coffee in the drizzle over moldering copies of The Oregonian. Shortly before last call, on the evening before I was to sit for the Oregon State Bar Exam, a young woman with long dark hair and a husky voice took the stool beside my own. She ordered bourbon neat. Freckles dusted her nose and a gauzy scarf was twined around her throat. Back at her place, she put on some tunes and together we dove headfirst straight down the neck of a bottle of Evan Williams. Although my recollections get a bit hazy at this point, I recall a room aglow with vanilla candles, a TV flickering on mute, and her astraddle me and pushing that dark hair from her face before sparking a spit-dappled joint. A tumbler of Mr. Williams’s good whiskey rested on my chest all the while, the rich red liquor trembling along with my heartbeat. [End Page 15] Come dawn, gagging at the foul paste coating my tongue, I bolted upright haunted by a sense of being prone on the tracks, the horn sounding, lights flashing and metal shrieking. I glanced down at the elaborate tattoo on my companion’s rump and thigh—a gothic oak tree, leafless and windblown, with a squirrel peeking from a knothole and a raven perched in the skeletal branches. The night before, as I’d sipped bourbon at the witching hour, these images had struck me as quite novel; now, however, with that same bourbon roiling in my gut, the eyes of both animals seemed eerily judgmental. I leapt to my feet and yanked on my stale jeans. “It’s so early . . .” she mumbled into her pillow. Desperately searching for my shirt, I replied that it most definitely was not early, that it was in fact very late. “Come back to bed,” she told me, and again pushed that luxurious hair out of her eyes, “you dumb, sad, lonesome fucker.” Then I dropped into a squat, my knees firing like rabbit guns, and while knotting my sneakers explained I would love nothing more than to crawl back into bed—except I was scheduled to sit for the bar exam. Hearing this, she sat up, blinking. “The what?” “The bar exam,” I said, and jerked my keys from my pocket, “the Oregon State Bar Exam!” Her hoarse laughter trailed me outside into the drizzle. My old Honda was slung across two spaces, looking like a trail-worn green mule. In the trunk sat a milk crate full of study guides—twelve hundred dollars’ worth of pristinely unused study guides. As I wedged myself into the driver’s seat, a wild grimace on my face and the smell of fermented corn leaking from my every pore, those guides seemed as shame-inducing as neglected pets. And while I splashed away through the ashen puddles, the prospect of ever seeing girl, squirrel, or raven again seemed almost as unlikely as a good showing on the day’s multiple choice questions, essays, and practical skills testing. ________ Sure enough, a few months later I received a handsome letter printed on 100 percent cotton, thirty-two-pound, watermarked ivory stationery which expressed the bar examiners’ sincere regrets at my not having attained the requisite score for licensure. But I’d merely gotten my just deserts. Consider my approach to my final year of law school. While my classmates were busy job-hunting, bar-prepping, [End Page 16] and hastily offering to marry one...

РОЗМІРНІ ПОКАЗНИКИ СКЕЛЕТНИХ ГІЛОК ДЕРЕВ ВОЛОСЬКОГО ГОРІХА

РОЗМІРНІ ПОКАЗНИКИ СКЕЛЕТНИХ ГІЛОК ДЕРЕВ ВОЛОСЬКОГО ГОРІХА

Pear rust: peculiarities of pathogen biology measures for control and profilactic

Pear rust: peculiarities of pathogen biology measures for control and profilactic

Методика комплексного оцінювання стану деревних рослин на прикладі декоративних форм Morus Alba L.

На підставі опрацювання літературних джерел досліджено особливості оцінювання зовнішнього стану деревних рослин, що ростуть у різноманітних дендропарках і лісопарках. Виявлено, що сучасні способи та методи оцінки повною мірою не відображають стан даних рослин. Виділено окрему категорію деревних насаджень, котрі ростуть на різноманітних природоохоронних територіях. Оцінка стану цієї категорії рослин дає змогу розробити комплекс робіт з їх догляду, особливо вікових дерев. Відзначено, що окрім оцінювання стану асиміляційного апарату рослин, потрібно проводити загальне оцінювання стану стовбура та скелетних гілок. За результатами досліджень запропоновано до практичного використання методику комплексного оцінювання стану деревних рослин на прикладі М. alba та її декоративних форм, що базується на проведенні естетичної, морфологічної, біоекологічної та декоративної оцінки. Сума їх балів у цілому, занесена до відповідної формули, дає достовірну загальну оцінки стану деревних рослин. Проведено модифікацію 4-бальної шкали естетичної оцінки стану деревних насаджень у 6-бальну. За цією шкалою естетичність декоративних форм М. alba оцінено як добра та задовільна. За біоекологічною шкалою стан деревних рослин, що ростуть у Національному дендропарку "Софіївка" НАН України, оцінено в 1-2 бали, а за шкалою декоративності – в 3-4 бали. Встановлено, що в Національному дендропарку "Софіївка" НАН України зростає шість декоративних форм M. alba, які мають розкидисту, плакучу, пірамідальну, кулясту та звивисту форму крони. Для збереження естетичності деревних насаджень 7-го та 28-го кварталів дендропарку "Софіївка" потребують поступової заміни, шляхом підсаджування біля них молодих рослин форми M. a. 'Globosa' та M. a. 'Pendula'. За проведеною комплексною оцінкою стану деревних насаджень (на прикладі декоративних форм M. alba) у цьому дендропарку оцінено як добрий, а декоративність, як достатня. Ця методика комплексного оцінювання стану деревних рослин може широко застосовуватись для розроблення заходів із догляду за ними та прогнозування їх потенційного віку і вчасної заміни.