“I dream of doing not only plant surgery, but also surgery of human souls”: the Ural scholarship holder of the Rosselkhozbank spoke about her plans for the future.

Natalia Naumova is a scholarship holder of the Russian Agricultural Bank at the Ural State Agrarian University. In July, she receives her graduation diploma and is already actively making plans for the future. The family of Natalia Naumova is connected with agriculture by strong threads: grandfather was engaged in beekeeping, now his father and brother continue his business. The family has its own apiary in Alapaevsk, on a small plot there are both beehives and the family house.
“During my school years, I really wanted to “cultivate” a wild species APPLE tree in the parent garden, make it varietal, so that small sour fruits are replaced by large and sweet ones. Every spring, I conducted many experiments with vaccinations, but I didn’t succeed, although I tried very hard, says Natalia Naumova, a 4th year student of the Faculty of Agrotechnologies and Land Management of the Ural State Agrarian University, about choosing a profession, and then I realized that I needed to go to study at the university.
Now the girl knows that even having only one apple tree in the garden, you can grow a variety of varieties on it. That's what vaccinations are for.
“With the help of them, the gardener can solve several problems at once. To grow several varieties at the same time on one tree and create strong plants resistant to the unstable Ural climate,” says Natalia.
Agrotechnologies fascinated the girl immediately during her studies at the faculty, but she literally got involved in the profession during practice after the 2nd year in one of the developing Chelyabinsk enterprises, where for the first time she was able to independently make “cultivated” plants from “wild” apple trees and pears.
“Grafting of plants is a serious surgical operation, and success depends largely on careful work, quality and cleanliness of the instrument. The apple tree accepts apple and pear trees well, and cuttings can be grafted under the bark even at the end of summer. Regardless of the method of vaccination, after 10-15 days you need to check how the “guest” has taken root, whether the kidney on the handle has dried up, whether the wound has healed,” says Natalia. - Well, if it didn’t work out, cover the wound with garden putty and repeat the vaccination next season. The main thing to remember is that if you apply knowledge, work and desire, you can get a huge beautiful garden with your own hands.
However, the girl does not want to do only one thing - she plans to gain knowledge in other areas of activity.
“I am also engaged in cutting plants, I like topiary art. And I want to continue this in my work after graduation. And I also want to additionally study as a psychologist and engage in surgery not only of plants, but also of human souls, ”adds Natalia.
In total, seven scholarship holders of Rosselkhozbank will receive USAU diplomas this year. The purpose of the bank's scholarship program is to provide financial support to talented students of agricultural universities and create conditions for effective learning of students.

Text - Marina Chirkova
Photo - personal archive of N. Naumova
06/17/2022

Source: Press Service of the Ural State Agrarian University