Let me begin by introducing a small instrument. This is a pH metre (pH means “the power/potential of Hydrogen) that is used to measure the acidic and alkaline content of water. The normal pH value of pure water is 7. As the value decreases, it means that the water is acidic. As it increases, it indicates that the water is alkaline. If we grow fish, it will be ideal to check the pH of the water in the tank by dipping the tip of the instrument in it. This can be used to check the pH of soil too.
This particular instrument has a thermometer also. Since I’ve been sitting idle for the last one week due to COVID infection, I have nothing else to do but read. I happened to notice this instrument and decided to put it to use. So, last week, I checked the temperature of this room. The time was 12.30 or 1 pm. The temperature stood at 29 o C. Sunlight does not fall directly on this veranda until 12 noon because of the trees close by. So, at around 2 pm, I checked the outside temperature. It was 32 degrees, and on the granite skirting (meant to protect the terracotta floor tiles) as well as granite steps, the temperature was 45 degrees. That means, it was as hot as Palakkad, the hottest place in Kerala.
As an experiment, I took the thermometer to the Miyawaki forest. The temperature fell to 28 degrees. In other words, when the atmospheric heat here is 31 or 32 degrees at 2 pm, the temperature inside the forest is nearly four degrees lesser. On granite surfaces it is 45 degrees. The tarred roads may be hotter still, although I haven’t checked that myself.
The point I am trying to make is this. The growing trend these days is to lay granite tiles all around the house, in the garden, and so on. It may be good to look at. Some people argue that it will prevent the entry of snakes. I believe snakes can easily glide over the rough surface of granite tiles because we don’t usually lay smooth-surfaced ones in the garden. I admit that it may be easier to spot snakes on granite surfaces. But snakes are not regular visitors. Last year, the total number of people who died of snake bite was 22. The number is the same when we consider wild boar attacks. But the number of COVID deaths is nearly 50,000 now. Death due to road accidents is 3,500 or 4,000. Yet we continue to fear snake bite and consequent death. Generally speaking, no one dies due to spider bites but if we spot a spider, we jump up in alarm. All this is due to fear psychosis. But I think we are straying from our topic.
When we lay granite stones or metal in our garden, the temperature around our house increases. Parking lots close to offices, covering an area of up to one acre, are concreted. It is only because the offices are air-conditioned that the increase in atmospheric heat is not felt. Concreted garden around your house will cause the temperature inside the house to go up. By dusk, the outside temperature will have become cool but the interior will still be very warm, and remain so until night. Unless you open all the windows and doors, or operate either exhaust fans or air conditioners. I am not suggesting that all of you should plant forests on your concreted compounds. But you can at least think of raising clumps of plants and trees. That will certainly bring down the temperature.
It is true that by planting trees, you will see insects coming over. Dry leaves will fall, birds will cluster around, and millipedes will appear. But if you wish to keep the atmosphere surrounding your house cool, there is no alternative. Buy this thermometer. It costs Rs 2,000. But you will be spending Rs 400 per square feet if you lay granite tiles. This instrument is a multipurpose one. A four-in-one, in fact. You can order it from amazon. Check the atmospheric heat on your own, and if you are convinced of my argument, check the temperature within a clump of trees. If this experiment helps you understand the difference, I suggest that you plant trees close to your house. Even a banana plant is helpful in this regard because its leaves will prevent the sunlight from falling on the ground and heating up the soil. Therefore, I request that you plant trees all around.