Basic HTML Version
what
you
can
do
•••
TIMELY
Tips and
Helpful
Suggestions for YOU and YOUR
FAMILY
•
Safer lnsect Sprays
and Repellents
There are a number of imponanr reasons why
H JS
unwise ro resorr ro strong commercial insecricides if insecr
pesrs plague your vegerablc garden.
Hard insccricides, such as cblorinared bvdrocarbons
(DDT. DDD. DDE. dieldrin. and aldrin ). or organ–
ophosphares (malarhion, pararhion, chlorrhion, and
TEPP) are cxrremcly poisonous. They nor only kili insecr
peses, but also kili beneficia! insecrs such as rhe ladybug
(also called ladybird and lady beetle). che praying manris.
and orhers. Garden allies like insecr-earing birds. frogs.
and roads are also indiscriminarely repclled or killcd. On
rop of rhis, srrong insecricidcs ofren leavc.: residues on fruit
and vegerables thar are harmful
ro
humans.
Rarher than use rhese insecricides, many gardeners
and gardening books recommend safer, planr-derivcd rore–
none and pyrerhrin-based sprays
ro
discourage insccr
peses.
Ryania powder and warer-mixes, as well as dormanr oil
spray solurions. are also recommended as safer ways
ro
ward off and kili insect peses. Bur ofren, rhese sprays and
solutions are combined wirh orher ingrcdienrs ro increase
rheir insecricidal power. making rhem harmful ro planes
and humans.
For rhose who fecl rhcy need sorne sorr of insecr
spray or repellenr, bur wanr somerhing evcn safer rhan che
commercial, planr-derived sprays. chere are a number of
less expensive, homemade ways ro help ward off insecc
peses.
Sprinkling dry cayenne peppcr on atfecred planrs
when rhey are wcr with dew repcls caterpillar pesrs. A
homemade spra\' of garlic, hor peppers, and onions repels
aphids, anrs, spidcrs, cabbagcworms, romaro worms, and
caterpillars. Simply grind up rhree cloves of garlic, a
couple of hot peppers. and rwo or rhree onions in a
blender or food mili. Add an equal amounr of water.
Allow che mixture ro stand overnighr. The nexr day,
srrain ir and rhen add enough water ro make chrec gallons
of spray mixture. Spray or dribble ir on rhe atfecred planes.
The lefrover mash can be buried in che garden.
To help kecp away snails and slugs, surround your
garden with ashes and lime. Use a shallow pan or jar cap
of srale beer
ro
lure and trap or drown rhose already in
your gardcn.
32
Cerrain planes planred rhroughouc a garden also help
repel unwanced insccrs. Garlic and herbs like cansy and rue
are good insecr repellenrs. Garlic and ransy are especially
discouraging co Japanese beedes. Inedible planes like mari–
golds (parricularly benelicial in repelling nemarodes and
Mexican bcan beerles), chrysanchemums, ascers. and
relared planes of che aster family are also good as insecr
repellenrs.
•
Avoiding TV Fires
A color relevision ser generares a tremendous
amounr of hear, a facr which not only shorrens irs Ji fe, bue
also can cause serious home tires. According ro rhe
Final
Report of the National Commission on Product Safety,
June
1970,
about
10,000
relevision sers acrually caughc fire in
1969.
"Mosc of rhe fires were in color sers," che repon
said. The ratio for color versus black-and-whire was found
ro be on rhe order of
40
ro
1.
To lengchen rhe life of rour TV ser - and prevenr
possible fires - follow che seven poincs lisred below.
l.
Don'r drape cloches or orher decorative materials
over rhe TV.
2.
Avoid inscalling rhe ser in a wall niche or builr-in
shelf wichour providing adequare vencilarion. In sorne
cases, a small fan or blower may be advisable.
3.
Avoid placing rhe TV near a radiaror or draperies,
or allowing ir ro scay in comacr wich combustible mare–
rials like magazines or papees.
4.
Avoid blocking che bortom air openings of a por–
cable or a rabie model ser by placing ir on a bed, sofa, or
rug.
). If your ser has an instanr-on fearure, designed ro
keep rhe filaments always hoc, unplug rhe ser when on
vacarion or away for a long time.
6.
If you ever lose rhe piccure on al! channels, imme–
diarelr rurn off che ser and unplug ir.
7. If
your television ser ever does catch fire, immedi–
arely unplug ir - rhen call che fire deparrment.
DoN'T
USE WATER
on rhe tire. Usually such a fire will go out by
itself
if
rhe cause is somerhing like a burned-our resisror.
If noc, use a dry-powder or carbon-dioxide fire exrin–
guisher.
If
you don'r have one, throw baking soda on rhe
Jire.
- Potrick
A.
Pornell
PLAIN TRUTH September-October 1972