madrid@auvax.UUCP (06/24/83)
The word around the coffee pot here is that ants HATE the smell (or
something) of Cucumber Peels. I have no direct experience with
this, but am passing on the statement of one who has. Good luck
with the artichokes.
R.oneil@nimbus.DEC (07/11/84)
Path: NIMBUS::ONEIL 9-JUL-1984 16:11 *
As a novice gardener, I have two subjects to ask questions about:
I have a preponderance of ants and ant hills in my garden. One of my
neighbors attributed the loss of his corn crop to ants. Does anyone
know if ants can harm corn and, in general, are ants harmful in a garden.
If so, what means can I use to eradicate the pests?
The second question deals with cover crops. When and what kind of cover
crops can I plant in the Northeast to protect against soil erosion? The
area I'm gardening in does not consist of good natural soil. Will cover
crops imporve the quality of the soil signifigantly?
Any other pointers for the novice gardener?
Regards
John E O'Neilmae@weitek.UUCP (Mike Ekberg) (07/01/85)
I have found that Boric Acid kills and/or discourages ants. Boric Acid kills ants by a chemical reaction with other chemicals present in their tiny stomachs. It produces gas and they explode! Boric Acid is a commonly available product used as an eye wash. You can get a 8 oz. jar of it in your local drugstore for $1.69. I just sprinkle it around on the trail of ants. The ants get it on their feet and carry it back home. The ants lick each other clean and die. I don't know the toxicity of Boric Acid.
jeff@rtech.UUCP (Jeff Lichtman) (07/05/85)
> I have found that Boric Acid kills and/or discourages ants. > ... > I don't know the toxicity of Boric Acid. I've heard that boric acid is a potent nerve poison. -- Jeff Lichtman at rtech (Relational Technology, Inc.) aka Swazoo Koolak {amdahl, sun}!rtech!jeff {ucbvax, decvax}!mtxinu!rtech!jeff
wcs@ho95e.UUCP (x0705) (07/06/85)
> I have found that Boric Acid kills and/or discourages ants. [.....] > I don't know the toxicity of Boric Acid. Supposedly it's very bad for pets to eat (not especially good for people), but it's a simple inorganic compund that mostly stays where it's put, unlike organic compounds (e.g. more typical pesticides.) -- Bill Stewart, AT&T Bell Labs, Holmdel NJ 1-201-949-0705 ihnp4!ho95c!wcs
levy@ttrdc.UUCP (Daniel R. Levy) (07/12/85)
mae@weitek.UUCP (Mike Ekberg): > >Boric Acid is a commonly available product used as an eye wash. You can >get a 8 oz. jar of it in your local drugstore for $1.69. I just sprinkle >it around on the trail of ants. The ants get it on their feet and carry it >back home. The ants lick each other clean and die. > >I don't know the toxicity of Boric Acid. > > Boric acid is not caustic to skin (and will not penetrate unbroken skin) but precautions ought to be taken against swallowing it, i.e., wash before eating or smoking after powdering your plants with the boric acid. If you try it on a vegetable plant, you obviously want to wash it well before eating the veg- etable. The boric acid might have some effect on the plant; the situation would be similar to that of high-borate soils (the boron, rather than the acidifying effect, would be of concern).