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Re: Notes from the slug pub........



* Hand pick in early morning or after dark- (I've been known  to go 
out with designated scissors  or drop them in a bucket of soapy 
water).
*  Beer traps,
* or, Instead of Beer- 1T.molasses, 3T. cornmeal, 1/2c.flour, 1/2c. 
water, 1/2 T.yeast
* In spray bottle- 3 parts water and 1 part Ammonia- spray as needed
* Oyster shells with wood ash or lime,
* Dry horse  bran- purchased at feed stores-$15 for 50#- slugs love 
the bran- fill up on this sweet yeasty substance then end up being 
desiccated-- bloated critters everywhere! this is one of the easiest 
solutions- just be sure to put  2" (deep and wide) line around all 
plants you want protected.
* Boards placed between rows,  check in heat of  day
* Garter snakes, Indian Runner ducks, chickens ( train them early on 
little slugs- if young chickens eat slugs that are too big they can 
suffocate- Also, salamanders and rove beetles.
* Planting bigger plants

I never found copper wire to be effective long term- need to clean it 
every year with rubbing alcohol to recharge-(copper oxidizes.)

Good luck...and remember you are in good company,

Jude

>So far this year (touch wood) my cabbages have not been seriously touched by
>our pals the slugs, probably I guess due to the hot dry weather we've been
>experiencing since the spring- however following some rain last weekend I
>noticed that some damage has started, and the other evening I went down to
>my allotment and caught about 7 slugs targetting one particular cabbage,
>which I removed (the slugs, not the cabbage). Yesterday I went down to the
>plot and surrounded the cabbages with sand barriers and also set up a couple
>of slug pubs using a couple of old soya milk cartons with holes cut in the
>side.
>
>I filled them with quality 2% 'Acme' (or somesuch) bitter bought for 40p a
>can from the shop on the corner (whilst poor me had to make do with a bottle
>of Organic Ale when I went for a sit in the deckchair!), within about 20
>minutes of setting them up 5 slugs had meandered over, 3 of which dutifully
>slithered straight inside (the others were hesitating so were given a small
>hand with a twig!), so everything seemed successful-
>
>However, a couple of thoughts/observations;
>
>1) I noticed one slug went into the trap, then come straight out again! (he
>went back in with a little help from me- anyone who knows me will tell you
>I'm lethal for getting in 'one more round'!!!)
>
>2) It occured to me that these traps seem to be so successful at attracting
>slugs, is it not possible that they might in fact attract slugs to growing
>areas that might otherwise never visit???
>
>3) Even at 40p a can, it's still quites an expensive way of providing a slug
>deterent, esp. when weighed against the economics of buying a cabbage, even
>an organic one, from the shops, esp. as I found it took nearly 2 cans to
>fill each trap- do you think I would get away with watering the beer down
>when I put in the traps, would it still be as effective???
>
>Anyone else got thoughts or experiences on the effectiveness of slug pubs?
>
>Cheers for now,
>
>Graham Burnett
>35 Rayleigh Avenue
>Westcliff On Sea
>Essex
>SS0 7DS
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