Subject: Re: Roundup
From: pollinator@aol.com (Pollinator)
Organization: AOL http://www.aol.com
Date: Tue, 19 Aug 1997 18:50:46 -0400
Message-ID: <MOD$970819.3453@rec.gardens.ecosystems>
References: <MOD$970819.23825@rec.gardens.ecosystems>


From: William D Hulet

> Is roundup paraquat with a new name? When I was a kid I had
>moronic relative order me to spray something called "Gramaxzone" in a
>handsprayer on weeds in the drip line of our orchard trees. It had real
>fancy effects when you inhaled it and when it hit a weed it made it
>collapse into dust within 24 hrs.
Gramaxzone (paraquat) is nothing for amateurs to fool with. It is
about the most toxic chemical used in agriculture, and should only be used
by those who are well trained. One of our neighbors died as a result of
stupidly mixing paraquat without protective gear. He splattered a little
of the concentrate on the back of his ungloved hand. Though he washed
immediately, enough of the chemical went through his skin to give him
chemical pneumonia, which caused his death.

Thank God you weren't another statistic as well.

Paraquat is not effective against perennials anyway. It will burn grass
back to ground level, but will not kill the roots, and it has less effect
on woody plants. It does kill most broadleaf annuals.

Roundup is not paraquat. Though it should be used sparingly and with
great care, it just is not in the same league in toxicity.

Roundup is highly effective on most woody perennials, because it moves
from leaf to root, though I've generally had to use it twice for stubborn
poison ivy. While paraquat acts quickly, Roundup may take a few days to
show that it is working.

There is a really neat tool to minimize the use of Roundup and remove
any effect on any plant except the one you want to kill. It is available
from some farm supplies.

The handle is a short length of plastic pipe with a screw cap at the
top and a 45 elbow and a tiny drip hole at the other end. Attatched to
elbow is a paint roller which becomes saturated with the mix.

In use, you simply swipe the roller pad against the leaves of the plant
you wish to kill. No other plants are touched or affected.

Pollinator@aol.com
Dave Green Hemingway, SC USA
Practical Pollination Page http://users.aol.com/pollinator/polpage1.html