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Re: Diatamaceous Earth

The DE (diatamaceous earth) that is used in pools is not the same quality,
granular size as that used in gardening. You should be able to find 5# bags
of DE at your local nursery. If you can't ask them to get some.

It is an organic product that can also be used to combat slugs, snails,
soil dwelling/crawling larvae as well as hardshelled insects. The dust
(made of the skeletons of long dead microscopic sea creatures) inflicts
small cuts on the insects through which the bleed to death or through which
they become so dehydrated that they die. You do not need to use very much,
a 1" thick ring around each plant should do it -- you may need to reapply
after heavy rain.

You should wear a mask when applying this product though because the affect
it has on insects also applies to bronchial passages. If this precaution is
followed, then the product is very safe to use.
>
>Date:    Wed, 2 Jul 1997 11:07:33 -0400
>From:    "Carolyn C. Sardella" <Care206@AOL.COM>
>Subject: Re: ants, to Sal Schettino
>
>In a message dated 97-07-02 00:16:34 EDT, you write:
>
><< At 12:16 AM 7/1/97 -0500, you wrote:
> >... Also something called diatamaceous (or
> >something like that) earth. That's basically ground-up sea shells I think.
>
> Close. It's the skeletons of microscopic sea creatures. >>
>
>We use that in our pool filter. Check out pool supply stores.

*******************************
Natalie McNair-Huff
Publisher/Editor Mac Net Journal
http://www.blol.com/web_mnj/

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