quassia chips as possum deterrent
 

A few weeks back on ABC radio they were talking about spraying plants
(and their fruit) with a bitter-tasting liquid made from quassia chips to
deter consumption by possums. A listener rang in to say that all the
instructions for preparing this liquid are WRONG. He said you should NOT
boil the chips, nor even use hot water -- he said that hot water destroys
a lot of the quassia's bitter taste. He said to simply soak the chips in
a bucket of tap water overnight and you'll produce the most bitter-tasting
spray possible.

His credentials came from working in a food laboratory where he prepared
the bitters for drinks such as lime & bitters, etc.
--
John Savage (my news address is not valid for email)