By John Warrington
I wrote a few words at the end of last week’s column about using chemicals, and the ever increasing risks of newer and newer chemicals and their dangers. I always try and use the simplest methods to control these problems in my garden and would urge everyone who has a small private garden to try and avoid chemicals whenever possible.
Some gardeners will always use chemicals, however, either in liquid form or as dusts, but there are obvious disadvantages, not least of which is that dusts blow all over the place, and can get blown off or washed off plants very easily. It is also a fact that many of the chemicals available in dust form are just as dangerous to use as are liquid preparations, and it is therefore vitally important to make sure that you are upwind when applying them so that they’re not blowing over you or your clothing. This golden rule of course applies when you are spraying liquids as well. However dusts do have their place, especially in protected parts of the garden. Many of them such as Malathion and BHC come in plastic ‘puffer’ containers. A smart squeeze and you envelop the plants in a fine dust cloud. It’s always important that you read the instructions carefully, (and ideally before you buy) to make sure that it will control what you want it to control and that you understand clearly what is written on the label. If you don’t understand then ask, and if they don’t understand then don’t buy it.
It is very important nowadays that you understand what you must do in an emergency, and that the doctor’s telephone number is nearby The doctor will ask you questions about the chemicals you are using so that the proper treatment can be given. Many manufacturers will write the treatment required on the can. Don’t forget to wash skin exposed to sprays or dusts with soapy water afterwards, and put your clothing straight into the washing machine. It’s not a bad idea to wear a face mask when spraying or dusting. And do not forget your pets or the pets of your neighbours. One of the main curses of chemicals is that they will wipe out the natural predators in the garden. In my garden we have bats which feed on mosquitoes whilst on the wing, and we have ladybirds. We also rub off small infestations of pests and cut out or pick off the diseased parts of our plants with the secateurs and burn them.
There are quite a few members of the cactus family that grow very well in Guyana, providing they are given good drainage and exposure to sunlight. Probably the most free-flowering ones are the night flowering Cereus and the Prickly Pears, and the only ‘tree’ cactus that I know is the Pereskia, a vicious cactus ideal for a barrier. These types are also rather too large for pot cultivation, but there are many more which are ideal for growing in pots providing you can ensure that they get excellent light, and are kept dry by growing them in a compost which is mostly sand and gravel to ensure perfect drainage. All the cacti that you will come across are products of the arid regions of the world, and particularly of North and South America, in areas of extremely low rainfall. They have evolved their characteristic form and function as a consequence of extreme conditions where they might only get and inch or so of rainfall every few years, are exposed to intense heat, and or heavy doses of ultra violet light, and need to protect themselves against grazing animals as well. Loss of water is reduced by the creation of a thick fleshy wall and many extra cells for water storage. Dense coatings of spines or hair break up the breezes passing over their surface, and of course animals including humans are deterred by the covering of very sharp spines over the surface of most species. The absence of branch systems reduces the area of the plant above ground, but all of them develop extensive shallow root systems over a wide area in order to catch what little moisture that falls to the ground. Many only receive water in the form of heavy dews or from mists or fog.
Look after yourselves as well as your plants, and may your God go with you
