CULT: VOODOO
- To: "INTERNET:i*@onelist.com"
- Subject: CULT: VOODOO
- From: S* M* <7*@compuserve.com>
- Date: Sat, 11 Mar 2000 03:08:36 -0500
From: Sharon McAllister <73372.1745@compuserve.com>
Message text writtenby Christopher Hollinshead
>
Solutions for various and sundry iris garden pests/problems:
Lady bugs for aphids
Cats for squirrel problems
Dogs for cat problems
Bears for deer problems
Bigfoot for bear problems
tactical nuclear devices for other problems over and beyond...
<
Funny, but with a grain of truth.
In my case:
Ladybug colony for aphids, elm beetles and many other insect pests. I
wrote an article for the AIS Bulletin on this experiment some years ago.
The colony is still thriving and has become even more effective as it has
matured. Even get grape crops now that the leaf-cutters are under control,
after using no pesticides of any kind for many years. So far, though, the
ladybugs have had little impact on black widow spiders, tarantulas,
tarantula hawks & centipedes -- but at least those don't attack the iris.
Tame rabbits for weed control. [See the archives for the full story, but
they've taken care of all required weeding under ramadas.]
Well-trained cat with strong territorial tendencies, highly-motivated to
keep strays out of his garden. From kittenhood, he was carried and petted
on every garden walk-through and given lap privileges in bloom season.
Steady cat on shoulder with one hand and carry hybridizing kit in the
other. Select pod parent. Set kit on the ground. Sit cross-legged on the
ground and place cat in lap. Select pollen from kit. Make cross. Tag
Cross. Repack kit. Put cat back on shoulder. Stand up. Pick up kit.
Move on to the next cross. Continue until cat gets hot and retires to the
shade. That's the positive reinforcement. The negative is that as a
kitten he got doused with whatever was handy -- ice water, iced tea,
Coca-Cola, Mountain Dew -- any time he was caught setting foot in an iris
bed. As a result, he does NOT use the iris beds as a sandbox and woe be
unto any stray that might be tempted. The Grizzled Old Warrior is the
fourth to be so trained....
BIG dogs -- from 100 to over 200 lbs and raised to considered themselves
the cat's bodyguards. Great Pyrenees are used with sheep because they are
gentle enough to be trusted with the baby lambs, yet fierce enough to
protect them from wolves and bears. St. Bernards are gentle giants, but
there's still something intimidating about a dog that's resting its feet on
top of the gate looking down at someone over 6 ft. tall -- and although
they aren't territorial they WILL protect any smaller "member of the pack",
whether human, dog, cat, or rabbit. Together, the dogs & cats have
protected the rabbits and controlled the squirrels.
Stock fence. No deer problems here, but a strong fence does keep stray
horses & cattle out, as well as stray dogs.
The ultimate "backup", a mean ole lady, equally comfortable with pistol,
rifle, or shotgun.
So far, "tactical nuclear devices" have not been required.
Sharon McAllister
73372.1745@compuserve.com
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