CHAPTER 11 - The Best Control 2

corn (when the silk is just about to come out) to prevent egg-laying/hatching of corn earworms. When the cornstarts to make silk, put 2- 3 drops inside the silk on each ear of corn. Do this at least 3 - 4 times per season.Castor Oil/Mole Formula - In your blender, whip 3 oz. of castor oil and 3 tablespoons liquid detergent. Blendtill frothy. Add 8 tablespoons of water and blend again till frothy. Using a 15 gal. Ortho hose-end sprayer, put15 tablespoons of castor oil mix in jar. Fill remainder of jar with water. Attach sprayer to your hose and spraycastor oil solution to the entire lawn and garden area. Apply while walking at a slow pace. After you’ve finishedspraying, set up your lawn sprinkler and water the solution into the soil (about 20 min. to an area). Repeat whenyou observe new mole activity. One to two applications per year are average. Spring is the best time to applyas the ground is usually soft.Cat Litter - Well used cat litter will repel woodchucks and moles. Fresh cat litter sprinkled at the bottom ofgarbage containers will keep them smelling fresh - change weekly or when damp. Take well used (dark) cat litterand put in water, strain and spray the stinky solution to repel Canadian geese and other herbivores.Catnip - is a perennial herb (Nepeta cataria) that grows 2’ tall and it can be used to repel/control many insectproblems. Catnip oil contains at least 23 compounds, but commercially-available cat nip oil can be 80% - 90%nepetalactone. Catnip oil is probably a CNS depressant. Catnip is an antifeedant for mamy vertebrates, includingdeer, rabbits and squirrels. Catnip’s active ingredient, nepetalactone, is an aphid pheromone that can be usedto trap aphids. Catnip interplanted with collards reduced the flea beetle infestations. Brew some as a tea: Fill ajar with leaves and then add water and leave it out in the sun for 3 - 4 hours. Repels roaches, ants, mosquitoesand many pests, including the Colorado potato beetle, but it still will attract cats. Nepetalactone, the activeingredient, found in catnip oil repels roaches 100 times better than poisons. Catnip oil will repel/kill termites untilit breaks down. Catnip makes a soothing tea for stress or sleeplessness. Use the flowering tops for colds and/or bronchitis. There are more than 250 species of catmint genus Nepeta. Not all contain nepetalactone; somethat do are Nepeta cataris, N. mussinii, N. nepetella and N. citridora.Cats - A good “mouser” will control mice and rats by patiently hunting them down. The Author’s old cat, CharlieBow Tie, kept his farm rodent free.Catawba Grapes - attract Japanese beetles and are used in vineyards to protect other grape varieties. Note: Inthe 1930s, in one study alone, 56 plant species showed good repellent qualities to use against Japanese beetles.Caulk - Seal all visible cracks, crevices, voids, and other openings (that you can insert a business card into) toprevent and/or control many pest problems. See Silicone Caulk.Cayenne - If you cut your finger with a paring knife, try sprinkling powdered cayenne pepper on the wound. Itwill help your blood to clot and it won’t burn, as you might imagine. Cayenne contains a pain-relieving chemicalcalled capsaicin, which appears to work by interfering with the action of Substance P, a chemical in the peripheralnerves that sends pain messages to the brain. Powdered cayenne repels most mammals and a liquid formulationcan be used as an alternative insecticide to destroy mosquito larvae; as an alternative mollascicide to controlzebra mussels and as an alternative fungicide to control mildew. Cayenne peppers also contain a particularsaponin that breaches fungal cell membranes, creating little tears or holes that destroy fungal pathogens thatadversely affect strawberries, blueberries and other small fruits. The chili pepper has been used to treat stomachaches, cramping and gas. It helps burn fat and reduce appetite and will often normalize blood pressure andoxygenate blood. See Capsicin. Please read Chapter 41 for other health information. Cayenne pepper canalso be used to repel ants and squirrels.Cedar - A solar tea made from cedar sawdust or chips will repel squash bugs, bean, potato and cucumber beetles,red spider mites, mealybugs, etc., or simply work the sawdust or chips into the soil. Sifted cedar sawdust willcontrol chiggers in lawns and will often act as a barrier to many crawling insects. Aromatic cedar mulch canrepel ants and other pests.Cedar Oil - Red cedar oil has been used as a fragrance carrier; it will repel insects and spiders.Cedarwood and Cedarwood Oil - Anti-fungal, anti-infectious, antiseptic, astringent, diuretic, calming effect, etc.;repels larvae of clothes moths and carpet beetles. Sifted cedar sawdust will control chiggers in lawns. Cedar oil372