In article ,
David Hill wrote:
Amber wrote:

I came to get some systemic fungicides this year and found that the only one
about is for ornmentals. I wondered are they not bringing them back and why?
I heard last year they were relooking at whats out there but I presumed
something would come back.

If they are not coming back can someone give me some tips on using the
'normal' stuff as I used to use systemic cos it sorted it out esp in thick
growth when its hard to spray it all.

We can blame it on the EEC (or what ever it's present name is)

Blame is not entirely the right word and, in any case, we can't.

All chemicals have to be retested and for many firms the cost is not worth
it for a lot of the chemicals used in the Armature market.

The reason that fungicides have almost disappeared is that almost all
of the effective systemic ones have very nasty effects indeed on
mammals, partly because we are more closely related to fungi than
plants.

Its not all that much better for the professional.

Better? Benomyl (Benlate) was banned because it is teratogenic (i.e.
children born to women exposed to it in early pregnancy sometimes had
no eyes). This was observed only in glasshouse workers.

What was Whitehall's reaction? To ban it for domestic use - it is
still permitted in commercial horticulture.

And then its also down to this "Nanny State" where Rose clear was removed
from sale as One Fool managed to get concentrate into his/her eye and it
caused Irritation.... no lasting damage....... but ..... in something like
12 years of use it was the first incident reported..

It is a little more serious than that. I agree that it was an
excessive reaction, because there are a lot of common chemicals
that will cause blindness if got in the eye. Oven cleaners for
one.

So it's back to things like Bordeaux Mixture (Lime and Sulphur) Copper Etc
Will have to dig out my old books...

They are one hell of a lot safer for humans. The lethal dose of copper
is something over a gram, and a minor overdose will rarely cause long
term damage. Copper is an essential trace element, after all.


Regards,
Nick Maclaren.