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subject: What is Diatomaceous Earth
sent: 12 sep 98

Scientists estimate that there may be as many as 12,000 species of diatoms, each 
identifiable by their delicate, ornate shells. Diatoms are a dominant species of 
phytoplankton, . . . . . . This fine, crumbly substance is used in insulating 
materials, abrasives, ceramics, and in filtering and filling materials. More 
than 270,000 metric tons of it are extracted annually from a quarry near Lompoc, 
California. 
http://bellnet.tamu.edu/diatoms.htm 

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Subject: DE food Grade
sent: 12 sep 98

When DE is sprinkled on the ground, on an ant mount, or mixed with grains, 
legumes, etc., it slices and dices the insects that walk through it. If you're 
planning to can or bucketize your own food, mixing in a cup of Diatomaceous 
Earth will help keep it pest-free. And it won't hurt YOU when you ingest it, 
'cause the 'sharp pieces' are too small to cut you, you lucky guy. (In fact, 
many farmers deliberately mix DE with animal feed to kill internal parasites in 
farm animals. The DE in the animal feces even kills the fly maggots that 
invariably appear in the patties.)

Diatomaceous Earth comes in at least two grades: Horticultural Grade and Food 
Grade. It's important to use only Food Grade DE if you're using it to store 
grains.

If you want to use it on plants, DON'T get any on the flowers. It'll slice up 
the few honeybees we have left. And I don't recommend incorporating mass 
quantities into the soil. Earthworms are good things: You don't want to hurt 
them until you put 'em on your fishhook.

DE is also effective against fleas ... but, again, take care not to let your pet 
breathe it.


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Subject: DE Horticultural Grade
sent: 12 sep 98

Diatomaceous earth has both a drying and irritating effect on many insects, 
including ants, roaches, fleas, snails, and slugs. It is composed of the 
skeletons of sea diatoms. Horticultural grade. 


What to do for "Seed Corn Maggot"

Description:
Yellowish-white, legless, 1/4 to 1/2 inch long. 

Common host plant(s): 
Young beans, peas, beet, and corn. Also melon, cucumber, and potato sprouts.

Damage:
Bores into sprouting seed and prevents development of plants; particularly 
destructive to
early planted seed.

Organic/Biological Control:
Apply diatomaceous earth to the base of plants.
http://everest.ento.vt.edu/~idlab/vegpests/vegfs/seedcornmaggot.html

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Subject: Filters Sand and DE 
Sent: 12 Sep 98

FILTER R & R:
Sand filters: The sand in a sand filter is specially graded to trap particles in 
the 20-100 micron range. As a sand filter collects dirt, its efficiency 
increases, trapping more dirt.

Diatomaceous Earth (DE) filters: The DE filter is the most efficient type of 
pool filter on the market. It can trap particles down to 3-5 microns; well below 
what the naked eye can see. As with sand filters, the pressure gauge indicates a 
need for backwashing when it reads 8-10 lbs higher than its clean reading. Under 
the microscope, these
skeletons appear to be tiny sponges.
http://www.poolcenter.com/filter.htm
