Text 8. Botanical Garden of Moscow State University

The Botanical Garden of the M.V.Lomonosov Moscow State University is one of the oldest botanical institutions of our country (founded in 1706). It is widely known for its scientific and educational activities. During construction of the MSU new premises at the Lenin (now Vorobyovy) Hills, a new University garden was laid out. More than 6000 plant species and varieties were planted in a territory of 40 ha.

Much research is under way at the Garden; its collection provides a practical and training base for the Department of Biology of the Moscow University, and other higher education institutions in Moscow. Besides scientists and students, general visitors also enjoy excursion tours of this remarkable island of live nature. It introduces them to a diverse world of plants. The departments of the Garden at the Vorobyovy Hills (arboretum, plot of mountain plant, plots of useful plants, ornamental plants and orchard) demonstrate their plant diversity to the visitors and show human activities in botany. The arboretum has a collection of species and forms of trees and shrubs running to over 1000. Also the wild herbaceous plants are represented here. A wealth of experience in parkland development has been gained by specialists at the arboretum. The plot of mountain plants was constructed on a geographic basic and contains more than 1000 species of alpine plants from the Carpathians, Crimea, Caucasus, middle Asia and Far East.

The best Russian and foreign fruit plants which were partly bred out by the Garden’s staff, grow in the orchard.

Tropical and subtropical plants can be seen at the hothouses of the Garden Affiliated Societies. These hothouses are located at the exact place of the “chemists’ garden” laid out in 1706 by Peter the Great. The Moscow University acquired its ownership over the garden in 1805. With the building of the new premises for the Moscow State University and the laying out of new Garden, the former Botanical Garden, a historical and cultural monument of Moscow, became its branch. The hothouse collections go back to the late 18^th century and are of great scientific value.

 

 

ACTIVE VOCABULARY

 

activity                               деятельность

construction                          строительство, стройка

premise                                 помещение, дом (с прилегающими пристройками и участком); владение

lay out v планировать, разбивать (сад, участок), выкладывать

species                                    (pl без изменений) вид, разновидность

plant                                        растение, саженец

variety                                    1) разнообразие, множество 2) сорт, вид

provide                              снабжать, обеспечивать

remarkable                        замечательный, удивительный

diverse                                разнообразный, разный

  arboretum [ֽa:bә'ri:tәm]       (pl –ta, -tums) древесный питомник

  plot                                        участок (земли)

  ornamental                           декоративный

orchard                            фруктовый сад

  shrub                                     кустарник, куст

herbaceous                        травяной, травянистый

gain                                          добиваться, получать, приобретать

construct                            строить, сооружать, воздвигать

alpine                                  альпийский

breed                                   разводить, выводить (животных, растения)

staff                                         служебный персонал, личный состав

hothouse                              оранжерея, теплица

affiliated society [ә'fιlιeιtιdsә'saιәtι] филиал

exact                                    совершенно правильный, верный

acquire                                приобретать, достигать

former                                    прежний, предшествующий

value                                     смысл, значение, ценность

 

EXERCISES

Vocabulary Exercises

 

1. Practise the pronunciation of the following words:

to lay out, premise, species, plant, variety, remarkable, diverse, arboretum,

 ornamental, plot, orchard, shrub, herbaceous, hothouse

 

2. Give Russian equivalents to the following words and word combinations from the text:

the Botanical gardens, educational activities, during construction, new 

premises, plant species, general visitors, to enjoy, of live nature, in botany, the

  wild herbaceous plants, a wealth of experience, in parkland, the alpine plants,

  the exact place, the hothouse collections