This Slug's For You!

In a separate trial for sugar-water mixtures, lager yeasts turned out to be more attractive than either ale or baking yeasts. Cranshaw also found that malt sugar in water attracted more snails and slugs than table sugar in water, that hops made no difference and that earth barriers -- unless they are wet and, therefore, ineffective -- can stop about half of all snails and slugs from reaching the attractant.

All experiments were done using six fluid ounces. The beer and other liquids were placed inside a covered snail and slug trap called the Slug Saloon, and placed in the garden for 48 hours.

For home gardeners wishing to try the experiment on their own, covered traps aren't necessary. Simply pour beer into an open container, such a a pie tin, and sink the container so its rim is flush with the soil's surface.

Of course, there are numerous other methods to trap and kill snails and slugs. In fact, too many to mention in just one column. That's why next week's column will pertain to more traditional methods. This El Nino gardening season has found a literal "bloom" of snails and slugs. I mean, I've had six packs of bedding plants eaten while they sat on the porch overnight before I could even plant them in the garden!

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