In article ,
Mike Lyle wrote:

Even less practical use, but I wouldn't be parted from my 1935 _Tropical
Planting and Gardening_, by H.F.Macmillan, once boss of the Royal
Botanic Gardens, Ceylon. Just a wonderful read, even if you don't have
much trouble with elephants, and have like me always resisted the
temptation to deal with thievish locals by the forthright expedient of
"a good thrashing". Macmillan is also a fan of cyanide; but he deals
with the safety issue as follows: "wrap the cyanide [of potassium] in a
thin paper bag and drop into the acid and water, by means of a string
passing through a trap-door and released from outside."

I've got that, too! It's actually more useful in the UK than might
appear, because it gives a good idea of when many conservatory
plants are no-hopers except in specialist plant-houses.



Regards,
Nick Maclaren.