Nesterov Nikolay Stepanovich - Russian scientist. To protect forest resources and use them without harming the ecosystem - such a goal he pursued in his practice. Love for the forest and care for it were the driving forces in his scientific work.
Biography
Forester Nikolai Stepanovich Nesterov was born in 1860 in a peasant family. The childhood passed in the Vyatka outback. Two real schools after high school is the next stage of his education. For the successes, the young man was left at the Petrovsky Academy to prepare for further activities as a teacher and as a scientist. In the thesis, the future arborist analyzed the question of the place of aspen among tree species.
Forestry activities
For several years N. Nesterov served in the corps of foresters. Subsequently, he was entrusted with a responsible state business - to visit European countries to study the setting of forestry. And in the USA and Canada, he studied forestry production. The works written as a result of these trips were highly appreciated in a special foreign press.
At the Forest Experimental Cottage, N. Nesterov planted trees brought from different regions and watched them, adapting them to the conditions of the Moscow region.
Circle of scientific interests
Most of all N. Nesterova was interested in the issue of the wind-retaining role of the forest, which was of great practical importance. Many of the topics he studied were related to tree species. For example, the question of how the acclimatization of trees occurs, and how the origin of seeds affects the growth of plantings. He wrote works on the production of French wooden shoes, on maple-sugar production in North America, on the use of wood chips. He was also attracted to the forestry economy and forest technology.
Ah yes the assistant aspen
In his work “The Importance of Aspen in Russian Forestry, ” researcher N. Nesterov writes about the most famous tree in our forests. He first looks at the prevalence of this forest species. Then it dwells on the degree of survival of the tree. The aspen seed germination capacity is small. They quickly lose their germination. Therefore, aspen cultivation is difficult and troublesome for foresters.
The author writes about such an advantage of aspen, as elasticity. Therefore, it is suitable in the construction industry. Beams, rafters, floors, poles and stakes for hedges, shovels, skis, carriage parts, wagons were made from it
The aspen forest was also used in the railway industry for the construction of wagons. Aspen was used as ornamental material for fishing. Peasants made tables, chairs, stools, teapots, trays and circles for flower pots, boxes (chests). Household items were made from aspen - buckets, cups, spoons, troughs, tubs, buckets, baskets, carts, boxes
.. For women - self-spinning wheels, knuckles for buttons, kids - toys. The head of the household - handles for braids, harrows, barrels, beehives
Aspen even shoes the peasants. Shoes with an aspen sole were much lighter than French beech shoes. The shavings of this tree were even sent abroad. Aspen was used to make writing and printing paper. Bark and aspen leaves benefit. Thus, the use of aspen is vast and varied. Among other tree species, it takes pride of place. The scientist believed in her broad future.
Forest Successors
At N.S. Nesterov had students who continued his work, including G.R. Eitingen. After the death of a professor of the scientist, his student was elected head of the Department of Forestry at the Moscow Agricultural Institute.
Doctor of Agricultural Sciences, member of the International Union of Forest Experimental Stations, head of the Department of Forestry at the Moscow Forestry Institute - these are the steps of the forestry career of G.R. Eitingen. He wrote a book about his teacher and spoke about his merits.
