Breeding farm in the village Medvedivtsy. Part One.

Some time ago, by chance, in a conversation of people who don’t know much about the local history, its ideas and ideals, I heard about the experimental farm, plantation, engaged in cultivation of exotic fruit and existing somewhere around the Mukachevo area. I spent some time searching for it and found this farm in the village Medvedivtsy in the Mukachevo area.

The breeding plantation is located on the outskirts of the village. Only one person has been working on it for many years. His name is Vasiliy Zayats and he is also an associate professor and the head of one of the faculties at the Biological Department of the University. I met him in early spring, when the snow had just melted. He showed me the plantation and told me the target dates of flowering and ripening of the crop. In 2008 I visited the plantation in Medvedivtsy three times. I specially came to take pictures of the blossoms, then - the early ripening of fruit, and a couple of days ago I came to photograph several varieties of a late fruit - persimmon.

A bit of history and survey information. The plantation has existed since 1969. In those years it was a part of a collective farm. Its area is 6 hectares. Growing of peaches is the basic component of its development. In 1985 there were 800 varieties of peaches growing on the farm. After the collapse of the Soviet Union Mr. Zayats managed to save the plantation and continue working on it, although it took much effort. Nowadays the following fruit are growing on the plantation: peaches and nectarines (about 250 varieties), apples (about 25 varieties), plums (about 60 varieties), apricots (almost 40 varieties), almonds (15 varieties), persimmon (10 varieties), a few varieties of kiwi, which have not yet fruited, and some other unique flora. The trees are flowering in April-May. The peaches ripen in the middle of summer, while persimmon and almond trees ripen in October.

Now let’s see some photo material. The owner of the plantation Vasiliy Zayats is in the first picture. He felt a bit uncomfortable when I photographed him and did not know where to hide a glass of water. I had to beg to leave it in the frame for a special charm.



And this is a friend and companion of Mr. Zayats – the dog Sharik. Sharik always supports and helps Vasiliy in a difficult process of breeding.



And this is a hut, the purpose of which, to tell the truth, is unknown. It is possible, that the guard of the plantation sleeps here during warm summer nights. It also can be used to store different items which should be hidden from the rain. In the background we see the slim rows of peaches.



The first three photos were taken in early spring. The next ones I photographed in summer and autumn. Just look how the "landscape" differs due to high grass. The trees can hardly be seen in the background. In the foreground of the picture, under the apple trees, some small harvest of fruit is in the boxes.



And this is a persimmon. It is still green. The picture was taken in early summer. This fruit looks very nice, like a little green octopus.



This is another persimmon, ripe and juicy. A few more days on a branch and it will be collected. You cannot eat it at once. True connoisseurs of oriental fruit know how to do it. You must leave the fruit for a week or two. It softens, and only then it can be consumed. It is one of the few fruit you need to bring to the condition, in which the usual fruit is discarded as spoiled, and then eat and enjoy.



This is also a persimmon. I’d like to remind you that there are about a dozen varieties of persimmon on the plantation. Another color or form, another stalk.



Peaches are the special love of Vasiliy Zayats. Just imagine that there was a time when he had 800 species of peaches. All of them were described, catalogued, marked and registered. He toured the Soviet Union and Europe a lot on topics of selection. Nowadays he is friendly with many plant-breeding institutes. For example, with “The Institute of Plum” in the city Chichak, which is located on the territory of former Yugoslavia



Just have a look at the next picture - what a beauty! It’s a nectarine – yellow and very nice one, by the way. When I was a child I did not like peaches because of their "roughness". I had to clean it thoroughly or buy a pickle. When, later, nectarines appeared on sale, I was very pleased.




Breeding farm in the village Medvedivtsy. Part Two.

30.03.2010. 14:44

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