h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

When I saw the title of the Entry, I guess I was hoping to find a magic wand, an easy way to get rid of my tree stump, but there's no magic wand, and no easy way.

I guess battery acid isn't really that dangerous, if you follow safety advice on the container, could you include a reminder to do that please Sprout.

>"Finally, and probably most safely, there are specific stump treating products around. However, most of these prevent further growth from the stump, rather than actually facilitating its removal."

My understanding is that these products kill the roots, thereby making it easier to dig up the stump. There are differnt types, my neighbour had one, that you drill holes, inserted the chemical, and covered the stump with polythene for around six months, after which time it was easier to dig out. I don't remember if the one I have somewhere does that too.

Emmily

To be honest, I can't really anticipate the BBC having a problem with the battery acid and all that. It's not as if there aren't warnings interspersed throughout the entry. I don't think it's logical to compare this entry to the inhaling helium one: it's one thing to be removing a tree stump, and quite another to be essentially taking a harmful drug.

Ref inhaling helium, ITV (UK) showed contestants on 'Big Brother' inhaling helium the other day.

I tried inhaling helium once in the lab. NOT recommended AT ALL.

I know that the BBC are very strict on some things - I know that the Guidelines for the website are that nothing should be published if they wouldn't show it on TV. And they wouldn't show Monty Don using battery acid or petrol as a method - or that garden makeover show.

So how about, writing the entry with just the 'safe/sensible' ways of moving the stump at the top, and perhaps a section nearer the bottom with 'other methods' at the bottom? That way you can concentrate all the dodgy bits at the bottom for 'information' on what some people do, list the dangers and that this isn't recommended for the 'casual' tree-stump remover, without it seeming as if the BBC is suggesting that we go outside and use petrol to set fire to our gardens.

OK - lots more safety stuff added, as well as the excellent suggestions I've had from the thread.



I'd really like to keep the structure of the entry intact so don't want to put all the 'dangerous' techniques in their own purdah at the end. They come naturally close to the end anyway.

sprout

This is looking much better. Most of the bits I objected to have been dealt with.

"the Somme circa 1916"...

The mud experience sort of epitomizes the concept of 'getting into your work'...

Lookin' good, sprout!

Sprout! An excellent entry. Congratulations on your hard work.

As this is a BBC site, and not everyone is likely to be familiar with GW's younger years, perhaps you could mention that this is a fable or parable, or just 'George Washington, by American legend, cut down ...'.

You could also use a bit of space after your bold ":"'s

Actually, dynamiting stumps is pretty common, especially on farms (although I think they drill holes and drop the dynamite into them). You may need to add a step 11 to get the comic effect. Perhaps something like.
Step 11: Now is true desparation time. Almost certain to be successful is the small nuclear device approach. Good luck bargaining with North Korea.

Good luck, it appears you're very nearly there!!

Just been to the Hillier Arboretum (Romsey, Wiltshire) today. Interested to read in one of their brochures that, [Sir Harold Hillier] bought the land in 1952. Gradually he cleared [it] for nursery use, removing the stumps of some of the old parkland trees with the help of....dynamite!

Yeah, but you wouldn't use dynamite in your average back or front garden, unless you were particularly sadistic, or completely stupid.

Emmily

Yeah, but if you read Sprouts Entry carefully, I don't think he necessarily specifies ones domestioc gardens!. (What're you doin up at this hour anyway ?

Emmily! You should know that one does not need to be completely stupid to be completely desperate?!

OK - made those changes.

Re the dynamite - fortunately, dynamite is rather difficult to get hold of. This reduces the danger of desperate people using it to get tree stumps out of their garden.


sprout

OK - let's see if we can move this one a bit. Perhaps if we all pull together?

sprout

One! Two! Three! DRINK!

Nononono...1...2...3...PULL!

COME OUT YOU F*****G THING YOU !

Now, now. Don't take out your temper on inanimate objects!

Would you prefer that we took it out on animate ones?

Well, at least they stand a chance of retaliating!