GARDEN RELIEF Pests get washed up A VANCOUVER Island company has made cleaning up insect in- festations on plants a simple mat- ter of washing down the offending bugs with a new insecticidal soap. Safer Agro-Chem of Victoria, B.C., manufacturers a soap that is as lethal as chemical pesticides when sprayed on certain insects. Because the soap is specially tailored from organic ingredients that harm only certain insects, it knocks out the bugs without damaging the environment, says Safer’s vice-president in charge of research and development, Dr. George Puritch. The insecticidal soap works so well that the company is develop- ing other soaps that kill harmful plants and fungi. Dr. Puritch says that soaps that kill insects (or plants or fungi) are just like ordinary household soaps, in that they contain a mixture of fatty acids and an alkaline base. Which is not to say that house and garden pests can be effectively controlled by a fathering up of a bar of Ivory and soaping down the insects. Safer’s insecticidal soap is a blend of fatty acids — there are hundreds of different fatty acids — that has been designed specifically to kill insects. KILLER SOAP It kills eight harmful house and garden pests, including mealybugs, earwigs, spider mites, and tent cat- erpillars. If combined with a bacterial pathogen, the soap will also control caterpillars and aphids. ‘Fleas are also sensitive to the soap, SO you can use it on your dogs and cats,’ adds Dr. Puritch. “It makes their coats look good, too.”’ Because the soap is designed to kill only certain insects it does so without harming a hair on the heads of such beneficial insects as bees, parasitic wasps and ladybugs. Dr. Puritch says the insecticidal soap does its dirty work on insects in more than one way. First, it penetrates the insect’s body and disrupts the membranes of the in- sect’s cells. ‘*The membranes {ose control so that all their contents leak out and the cells die,’’ says Dr. Puritch. Ia addition, the fatty acids build up in the insect’s nervous system, causing paralysis. In order to work, the soap must hit the insect directly, Dr. Puritch says. This requires more frequent spraying than other types of pesticides; nevertheless, the scap is Holland. Now that the bug soap has pro- ven so successful, Safer is market- ing a herbicidal soap, called De- Moss, which kills moss, algae and lichens that grow on patios, side- walks and roofs. Safer Agro-Chem has received grants from the Science Council of British Columbia and the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council. REGISTER NOW for “Guidelines to Good Lighting” and Canadian Science News “Safe Home Wiring Lessons” by GORDI MOORE, C.L.M.C. We Have Expande August 1975 Johnstone's Home Appliance Service Ltd. was born. in May of 1979 we opened our doors io the public with the addition of appliance paris to our already growing service department. We also introduced the best quality rebuilt major appliances available (which we now offer with a full six month parts and labour warranty). I'm sure some of you remember the funny little store on Marine Drive with all the washers and dryers out front! Over the years we have ex- panded our services and pro- ducts to include multi-brand gas barbecue parts and ac- cessories as well as the Broitmaster and Charmglow lines of fine quality gas barbecues. By working hard and always \ See! x 7 Gary Johnstone Congratulations on your expanded store WHER I aX Sotiison To fi JOHNSTONE’S Home Appliances 165 Pemberton Ave. 985-9541 JAYLORMOTIVE? 2 Serving the North Shore for over 27 years Congratulations Gary & Bruce giving fast, honest, and depen- dable appliance service we have grown to employ over fif- teen of the finest and best trained group of technicians, sales force, and back-up staff in the industry today. Our thanks go to you, our valued customers, for you have helped us grow and have indirectly aided many other businesses to expand as well, from our suppliers to the peo- ple who service our needs In closing. | would like to personally invite you to come down and visit our newly renovated showroom, talk to our Staff, and browse through our rebuilt appliances and new barbecues. Thank you North Shore Bruce Johnstone General Manager | Bruce Johnstone Lumber Co. Come to us for the Builder's’ Prices cost-effective, he says. Dr. Puritch says the soap has a number of advantages over pesticides made from petrochemicals. “It isn’t harmful to the en- vironment and it won’t endanger your workers,’’ he says. ‘‘Also, it degrades immediately so you can use it right up until the day before harvest.’” “And because it’s a soap, it makes it easier for you to clean up your equipment,’’ he adds. 980-3484 985-7455 | 160 Hanes, N.Van. CAPILANO RENTALS LTD. “Congratulations on vour recent expansion” “For all your rental needs” 4419 Main St. N. Van. 988-3234 | 174 Pemberton, N.Van. nor-wes signs services ltd. APEX TIRE CO. LTD. SINCE 1958 “A complete sign service” Good Luck with the new shop $88-5415 988-5416 753 Marine Dr. Sees N. Van. 987-8156 1534 Main St., N.Van. headmaster Simply the best B-B-Cue you can buy 236A E. Esplanade N.Van. 985-1944 Printing For all of your printing & stationery needs. LIQUID FORM The insecticidal soap comes in a liquid form that looks much like the new soaps available in pump bottles. When watered down, it can be sprayed over houseplants or fields or entire forests. So far, Safer’s soap has been used everywhere from apple or- chards in B.C. to fir forests in Keep on Growing, Gary & Bruce 1395 Pemberton, N.Van. 980-1713 | 879 Marine Dr. N.Van. 980-2414