On Mon, 05 May 2003 21:32:17 -0500, Rusty Mase wrote:


Totally amazing. I have a nice optical microscope and it looks like
the same stuff when you just look at it. But if you heat up amorphous
silica it does vitrify (crystalize) somewhat - but this topic gets so
complicated that I am no where smart enough to figure it out.

Did you know there are hundreds of forms of mineral (and sort of
mineral) silica. Beyond me folks. I used to think it was all just
sand.

Rusty Mase

When I lived up in Denton County, the Carrolton library had a reference book
called "Diatoms" which has a few thousand pages! A very complicated form of
life for being single celled in most cases!

V

On Tue, 06 May 2003 12:54:00 GMT, animaux wrote:


When I lived up in Denton County, the Carrolton library had a reference book
called "Diatoms" which has a few thousand pages!

Yes, that is probably Ruth Patrick's and Charles Reimers' series of
monographs. Just tiny plants living in a glass box they make all by
themselves. Fascinating.

If you ever get really freaked out identifying these, I have the
monographs and a microscope you can come over and use. But I do not
think I will hold my breath waiting for someone to take me up on that
one. Diatom gardening, anyone?

Rusty Mase


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On Tue, 06 May 2003 09:42:38 -0500, Rusty Mase wrote:


Yes, that is probably Ruth Patrick's and Charles Reimers' series of
monographs. Just tiny plants living in a glass box they make all by
themselves. Fascinating.

If you ever get really freaked out identifying these, I have the
monographs and a microscope you can come over and use. But I do not
think I will hold my breath waiting for someone to take me up on that
one. Diatom gardening, anyone?

Rusty Mase

I took one look at that book and said to myself, "no, that just cannot be
possible!" : )

On another note, I have not yet seen one grasshopper this year. Not a nymph to
be found. I wait for them to come out to put the NoloBait out. Has anyone seen
hoppers yet? Maybe that late ice storm got em. Particularly since the very day
before that it was 80 degrees! Ah, Texas weather. I'd never move back to New
York.

V

i've been enjoying this thread in lurker mode...so do you
mind if i jump in and ask a question?

does D.E. work on pillbugs? i have way too many in my flower
beds and i'm in search of an organic solution (i have some D.E.
and have circled my flowers with it, but i don't know yet
if it's going to help or not).

if it is a good solution, am i correct in merely applying it to
the surface mulch around the flowers or is there a trick
to it?

thanks...back to lurker mode,
marty.

________________________________________

Making the World a Noisier Place

"animaux" wrote in message
...
On Tue, 06 May 2003 09:42:38 -0500, Rusty Mase
wrote:


Yes, that is probably Ruth Patrick's and Charles Reimers' series of
monographs. Just tiny plants living in a glass box they make all by
themselves. Fascinating.

If you ever get really freaked out identifying these, I have the
monographs and a microscope you can come over and use. But I do not
think I will hold my breath waiting for someone to take me up on that
one. Diatom gardening, anyone?

Rusty Mase

I took one look at that book and said to myself, "no, that just cannot be
possible!" : )

On another note, I have not yet seen one grasshopper this year. Not a
nymph to
be found. I wait for them to come out to put the NoloBait out. Has
anyone seen
hoppers yet? Maybe that late ice storm got em. Particularly since the
very day
before that it was 80 degrees! Ah, Texas weather. I'd never move back to
New
York.

Well, you should probably get ready. They're beginning to show up out in
Webberville, little bitty ones about 1/2-3/4" long.

Dale

Schulz Nursery in Marion.


"Judy Devore" wrote in message
.. .
Can anyone tell me where to go for effective but inexpensive nematodes and
diatomaceous earth? I understand these would help keep the lawn flea
population (among other pests) down.
Thanks

It must be a terrible responsibility to be an expert on every subject.
"animaux" wrote in message
...
On Sun, 04 May 2003 19:43:25 -0500, Rusty Mase
wrote:


D.E. is D.E. no matter what you call it. It is a mined mineral from
deposits of diatom frustules that consist only of amorphous silica.
D.E. has a higher melting point than glass, another amorphous silica,
but considerably less than sand, a crystaline silica.

No, that would not be correct.

http://www.dirtdoctor.com/view_question.php?id=21

I don't agree with everything Garrett has to say, but this is a proven
fact.
Pool grade D.E. is NOT the same as horticultural/food grade D.E.

Do as you will, but I feel it is important to let people know they should
do
their research before putting something which is totally ineffective on
their
garden.

It must be a terrible responsibility to be an expert on every subject.
"animaux" wrote in message
...
On 2 May 2003 14:15:34 -0700, (Mark Edwards) wrote:

"Judy Devore" wrote...
Can anyone tell me where to go for effective but inexpensive nematodes

Dog poop is a good source, though these are parasitic.

M

If your dog has parasites, I strongly suggest you get it taken care of
since you
too can get the same parasites. If you are kidding, or joking, I'm not
laughing.

It must be a terrible responsibility to be an expert on every subject.
"animaux" wrote in message
...
On Mon, 05 May 2003 06:01:36 -0500, Rusty Mase
wrote:

On Mon, 05 May 2003 02:39:24 GMT, animaux wrote:
Pool grade D.E. is NOT the same as horticultural/food grade D.E.

I will have to read up on that. I cannot imagine why you would
calcine it unless you were just burning an impurity off from it.
Also, it cannot be more crystaline than regular D.E. as calcining it
would not crystalize it. It is just a mineral - kind of a strange one
perhaps as it is created by living organisms.

The only insecticidal nature to it is abrasiveness and it only works
on insects with hard exoskeletons. Fine sand does not do this as the
particles are round whereas D.E. particles are jagged.

A rose by any other name is still a rose in my book. For the Dirt
Doctor to call it "natural food supplement for pets and livestock" is
really sort of weird. The stuff is inert!

Rusty

It's got minerals and the physical properties of the product helps with
internal
parasites. I have no idea how it doesn't hurt earthworms in the soil, but
it
doesn't. Maybe because its only effective when dry? Not sure. There are
many
large volumes written about diatoms.

I don't know why anyone would calcine it, either.

It must be a terrible responsibility to be an expert on every subject.
"animaux" wrote in message
news
On Mon, 05 May 2003 21:32:17 -0500, Rusty Mase
wrote:


Totally amazing. I have a nice optical microscope and it looks like
the same stuff when you just look at it. But if you heat up amorphous
silica it does vitrify (crystalize) somewhat - but this topic gets so
complicated that I am no where smart enough to figure it out.

Did you know there are hundreds of forms of mineral (and sort of
mineral) silica. Beyond me folks. I used to think it was all just
sand.

Rusty Mase

When I lived up in Denton County, the Carrolton library had a reference
book
called "Diatoms" which has a few thousand pages! A very complicated form
of
life for being single celled in most cases!

V

It must be a terrible responsibility to be an expert on every subject.
"animaux" wrote in message
...
On Mon, 05 May 2003 16:45:46 -0500, Rusty Mase
wrote:


Interesting question, Victoria, and I do not know the answer, and
besides, you need to get on with getting ready for the film crews.

Rusty Mase

Today the smoke from the Mexican fires is already thick. I think my
lungs
(since we're talking about lungs!) do not appreciate this smoke. I moved
from
NY to Texas and never had an allergy. Now I believe I'm allergic to mold.
My
throat gets a frog in it when the mold is high.

I suppose the fires do keep that hot sun from penetrating me, so I will
get some
garden work done today. There are enough vignettes (sp?) for them to film
without me being embarrassed on television!

As for the D.E., well, I know it abrades exoskeleton and renders the
insect to
exposure and that's how they die. They literally die of exposure because
the
D.E. poses a chink in their armor.

The bottom line is, I don't use any pesticides, synthetic, natural,
barrier or
mechanical. Since I operate like that, the garden has struck a balance
and like
a new fish tank has cycled! All I do is keep everything healthy. That's
my key
to success. When plants don't do well for two seasons, I leave them and
they
become host plants for food which will feed and attract beneficial
insects,
spiders, lizards and so on.

respectfully,
Victoria

On NPR Science Friday today, the experts agreed that releasing so called
nematodes and lady bugs in your yard will really not do anything.
You can listen on Real Audio.
www.npr.org



"Judy Devore" wrote in message
.. .
Can anyone tell me where to go for effective but inexpensive nematodes and
diatomaceous earth? I understand these would help keep the lawn flea
population (among other pests) down.
Thanks