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<pre>Being a particularly wet spring in the southeast corner of Australia this year I
find the olives attracting large numbers of garden snails. What makes the olive
so attractive when other trees are left alone and are they causing any harm?

On another pest matter can anyone report on the effectiveness or otherwise of '
Natrasoap' against olive lacebug. My sons are growing a separate block of olives
under organic conditions and do not want to use 'Lebaycid'.
Any information regarding timing and number of applications would be helpful.
Where can 'Natrasoap be purchased?

Alan Watt, Tanja Olives


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<pre>Alan

re natrasoap, I've heard of poor response from some users. It needs to
be blasted on so that all surfaces are contacted & numerous follow up
applications after every rain during humid weather. I wonder what the
effect on the soil is of all this surfactant runoff. There is an
interesting article in the October 25 issue 'Land', an avacado grower
from north coast (high humidity area) has switched over from copper,
fungicides & artificial fertilisers etc to using worm juice foliar
sprays with good results. 'Acres' magazine (monthly) is a regular source
of organic style information. With regards to credibility its a bit of a
minefield as there are all sorts of promoters promising the world (& more)

Roger Farquhar

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<pre>I have heard also that the Natrasoap and other soap sprays can be effective
against the juvenile stages of Olive Lace Bug, but not so effective against the
adult bug. Effective control therefore will be very dependent on close
monitoring to ensure good timing of application, and as Roger said, effective
coverage, to run off point, ensuring thorough coverage of the underside of the
leaves where the bugs spend most of their time.

Here are a couple of web sites of companies who sell Natrasoap. There may be
others in NSW as well

http://www.agrobest.com.au/products/index.html

http://www.greenharvest.com.au/


Damian Conlan
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<pre>Yes I agree the use of surfactants can possiblily have some long term
deterimental effects- also the potassium salts content of natrasoap is
high I believe.

We have had tremendous success with worm juice. At the beginning of the season
it looked as thaough we would have a scale and lacebug problem.
Some trees were being attacked very serverely with lacebug in particular. I
believe the scale (red and black ) were dealt with by predator
insects and the lace bug disappeared completely after 2 applications of worm
juice. The theory is, I believe(someone may know more on this )
that the worm juice not only has a mild foliar fertilizing effect( that
strenghtens the tree against insect attack) but also is loaded with
mircobes that attach themselves to the leaves and will clean up any scale soot
and deter any small sappy insects living there.

Acres is a great magazine( every farmer should read it ) but watch the ads- they
can put the word organic on something and equate it with
being good!

Megan Seiler

Roger Farquhar wrote:

> Alan
>
> re natrasoap, I've heard of poor response from some users. It needs to
> be blasted on so that all surfaces are contacted & numerous follow up
> applications after every rain during humid weather. I wonder what the
> effect on the soil is of all this surfactant runoff. There is an
> interesting article in the October 25 issue 'Land', an avacado grower
> from north coast (high humidity area) has switched over from copper,
> fungicides & artificial fertilisers etc to using worm juice foliar
> sprays with good results. 'Acres' magazine (monthly) is a regular source
> of organic style information. With regards to credibility its a bit of a
> minefield as there are all sorts of promoters promising the world (& more)
>
> Roger Farquhar
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
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