Re: [IGSROBIN] Slugs

Down south we use salt to the same effect as your ammonia water.  I must
admit it is satisfying to watch the little suckers dissolve.  If we are
feeling charitable, however, we put our the traditional saucer of beer, and
let them die in a drunken stupor.

Considering that slugs are merely shell-less snails, up close and personal
interaction with them creates deep ambivalence about escargot au provance,
however:)
----- Original Message -----
From: DALE NEIL <JJCA95A@PRODIGY.COM>
To: <IGSROBIN@MAELSTROM.STJOHNS.EDU>
Sent: Thursday, March 25, 1999 11:51 PM
Subject: Re: Supersoil


> -- [ From: Dale Neil * EMC.Ver #2.5.3 ] --
>
> Hi Cindi
>
> > I'll have you know that I was out at the crack of dawn (well, pretty
> near >dawn, it was still kind of dusky out ... or maybe my eyes were
> just closed) >braving the cold (with a capital BRR!),
>
>
> Did I see the word cold??? :-) Oh My ... I have a feeling that we are
> talking about the temps that make us feel like going out in shorts here.
> Say  around 40- 45 maybe??
> I do appreciate your hardship though since I know that your body has
> probably forgotton it's midwest heritage <chuckle>.
>
> >and the slugs the size of sanitation trucks
> > (yuck!) that seem determined to leap under my bare feet at inopportune
> >moments,
>
> Now slugs are not my friend at all. I go out at night with a bottle of
> ammonia water in the early spring, hunting them down with a vengence so
> they don't get the better of my plants later. Squirt  those critters
> with a mild ammonia solution and they bubble up and disentigrate <heh
> heh heh> .
>
>
> > Supersoil appears to be a local brand, as you suspected, made in San
> Mateo, CA,
> > without change to the original recipe since 1954.
> >
> > The specs are that it has "an exclusive blend of the finest natural
> ingredients
> > nature has to offer -- forest products, including fir bark and redwood
> ,
> > Canadian sphagnum peat moss and pure sand -- Supersoil potting mix
> promises
> > many special advantages for whatever you plant, wherever you plant it.
> "
> >
> > Steam sterlilized
> > pH range of 5.5-6.5
> >
> > Total Nitrogen:  0.14%
> >   (0.01 Ammoniacal Nitrogen, 0.01% Nitrate Nitrogen, 0.01% Water
> Soluble
> > Organic Nitrogen, and 0.11% Water Insoluable Organic Nitrogen)
> > Available Phosphoric Acid (P205):  0.09%
> > Soluble Potash (K20):  0.02%
> > Iron (Fe):  0.25% y
>
> Hmmmmm.... from the ingrediant list and spec that you have listed, it
> appears to be very similar to alot of "professional" mixes that have
> appeared around here. In fact, It even sounds very similar to Sam's
> Choice (I think that is what it is called) potting soil from WalMart. I
> have used that for a base at times when I can get it for next to
> nothing during a clearence period. (Just because it is from Walmart
> doesn't mean it is cheap <G>. )
>
> I have noticed that these mixes don't really have near the amount of
> perlite that I would like to see so I can see adding some. I usually add
> 1/2 - 1part perlite like you do.
>
> >
> > The mix I use at this time is 2 parts Supersoil, 1 part perlite, and 1
> part
> > mulching amendment.  I'm going to be trying an experiment wherein I
> also add 1
> > part sand.  I mix it up in small lots most of the time, just using a 5
> .5" pot
>
> Is that mulching amendment a ground bark product by any chance? I have
> been adding what is called Organic base to my perennials and some of my
> pellies when they go into the ground.  I also add a few spoonfuls of
> Hoffman Organic Azalia food to the bedding soil as well as the potting
> mix since my water and soil around here is fairly alkaline.
> I like to add my own compost too whenever I can.
>
> > to scoop the various incredients into my mixing tub and then stirring
> it up and
> > using it all in one batch.  That way the neighbor's cat isn't tempted
> to leave
>
> Do you know anyone that works in a sandwich shop or fast food place
> (actually anywhere that would use pickles would work)? My oldest
> Daughter worked at a Subway Sandwich shop for 3 years and was able to
> get me many 5 gallon plastic pails that the pickles came in . They are
> great for storing soil, dog food, bird seed mixing water etc. The
> restaurants usually either pitch them or send them to recycle but we
> might as well recycle them and get some personal use out of them .
>
>
> > So, are you actually making your own soap, or just reading about it?
>
> Yes <G>.  In the last 4 months I have probably made 6 batches of soap. I
> just made my largest batch last night that will produce 18 3.5 oz bars
> when it is all cured. I have quite a few sitting around curing now.
> I have been trying to use my herbs (as well as scented pellies) in the
> process. I have even tried my hand at distilling the oils out of Rose
> scented pellies. I can only come up with strong floral water so far but
> that is better than nothing. I have also come up with a couple nice
> moisturizing formulas that alot of friends of mine seem to like.
>
> Well back to you for now.
> TTYL,
> Dale
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