Most likely, this very year Kolesov's sword "celebrates" its anniversary.

Historical sources indicate that in 1883, Alexander Kolesov, director of the Kharkiv Agricultural School, invented this tool for manually planting seedlings of tree and shrub species.

The invention of this forest planting tool was prompted by the failures of predecessors in afforesting sands by sowing pine seeds. The seeds germinated vigorously, but the sprouts completely died during summer heat.

It was originally designed for light soils, but was later modified for soils of different mechanical composition. The weight of Kolesov's sword is 5.5 kg, but its design significantly reduces the load on the hands and back of the worker using it.

Despite its respectable age, Kolesov's sword remains the most common tool for planting forest crops today. Therefore, for all artificial forests created over the past 140 years (there is an opinion that about 50% of them exist), we must thank the inventor of this tool.

Today, forests are created both manually and mechanized. For planting seedlings with closed root systems, special Pottiputki devices are used. Today, this is the most effective tool for this type of planting material. Unlike Kolesov's sword, it comes in different sizes, and one worker can plant seedlings with it.

Notably, the only monument to Kolesov's sword in Ukraine is installed in Zhytomyr region: at the Malyn Forestry Technical College.