GB2103062A

GB2103062A - Protecting plants from slugs

Info

Publication number: GB2103062A
Application number: GB08217228A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Thomas Pfau
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1981-06-16
Filing date: 1982-06-14
Publication date: 1983-02-16
Also published as: FR2507433A1; DE3219974A1; CH650900A5

Abstract

The invention relates to the protection of plants from slugs and seeks effectively to prevent any slug from reaching a plant surrounded by a barrier. According to the invention, plants are enclosed by a slug barrier (4, 5) and parts (18, 19) of the barrier (4, 5) are coated with a slug-repellant substance. The parts (18, 19) are preferably flange portions of the barrier which is is normally made up of a plurality of separate overlapping components, and the slug-repellant substance coated on the underside of such a flange. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION The protection of plants from slugs The present invention relates to a method for the protection of plants from slugs, and a slug barrier therefor.

In a known method for the protection of plants from slugs an obstacle is placed around the plant or plants in the way of the slugs, by which they are forced, as they seek to crawl to the plant, to crawl in progressive movement, after climbing on the obstacle, towards the ground again and away from the plant at an angle of at least 300. While this method has been quite successful, it was apparent that a number of slugs are able to climb over the obstacle, in particular when the material used attracts slugs, such as, for example green, or synthetic materials.

The present invention seeks to improve upon the above method to the extent of preventing these remaining slugs from negotiating the obstacle. According to the invention, at least a part of the slug barrier surrounding the plant or plants is painted with a slug-repellant substance.

Such part typically comprises a portion bearing a surface facing the ground outside the barrier.

The invention also provides a slug barrier comprising a plurality of interconnected components, a part of each component being coated with a slug-repellant substance. In preferred embodiments, each component comprises a wall portion and a flange portion, the slug-repellant substance being coated on a part of the flange portion. An enclosure is normally formed by a series of components, contiguous components overlapping. The components are connected by screws passing through holes aligned through overlapping flange portionS.

Suitable slug-repellant substances are alkaline, such as soft soap. Another useful substance is tannim. The substance can conveniently be applied in the form of powder to a surface bearing a coating of contact adhesive. As the substance, or in addition thereto, a strongly acidic substance may be applied to a metallic part of the barrier, in order to form a poisonous metallic salt.

The invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawing wherein: Figure 1 shows part of a slug barrier in perpsective view, and Figure 2 shows, in enlarged part cross-section, the connection of overlapping components of the barrier of Figure 1.

As shown in the drawing, a vegetable 2 for example, growing in the ground 1, is protected from slugs by means of a slug barrier, which is comprised of structural components 4, 5, two of which are illustrated. Each of these components 4 and 5 has an insertion surface or wall portion 7, 10 and an inclined surface or flange portion 8, 11.

The components 4 and 4 are preferably manufactured from galvanized sheet iron. As regards slug protection, also asbestos cement has proved to be successful, whilst for example wood, PVC and other synthetic materials are not recommended as they are apparently more conducive to slugs. The components 4, 5 as Figure 2 shows, overlap in the connection zone 13 and in each case define a passage 15, 16, which passages have differing distances from the fold edge, in order to ensure that the two passages are aligned and the two sheets, as illustrated, are able to be assembled together by means of for example, a screw. The difference in said distances is slightly greater than the thickness of the sheet.

Of particular importance are the indicated underside regions 1 8 and 1 9 of the flange portions 8, 1 We have found that through coating at least the one region, preferably the underside region 18, by means of slug-repellant substances, slugs no longer climb over this edge and consequently plants and vegetables behind the slug barrier are safe from attack by slugs.

Soft soap has proved to be the most successful as a very expedient substance in this respect as, when it is painted on the underside region 1 8 and distributed around the entire circumference or periphery of the slug barrier, it cannot be washed off by heavy rainfall, and therefore is able to carry out its barrier function even in the most critical period. The slug-repellent substance is preferably as neutral as possible, so that it remains stable for a long time. If it is basic, it reacts with the carbon dioxide of the air, and if very acidic, it reacts with metal or metallic oxide. The latter though, may have a positive effect on that some poisonous metallic salt; e.g., sodium bisulphate, is produced.

1. A method of protecting plants from slugs, comprising enclosing at least one plant with a slug barrier of which at least a part is painted with a slug-repellant substance.

2. A method according to Claim 1 wherein said part of the barrier comprises a portion bearing a surface facing the ground outside the barrier.

3. A method according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein said part comprises an outwardly directed flange, the outer underside of which is coated with the slug-repellant substance.

4. A method according to any preceding Claim wherein the slug-repellant substance is applied in powder form to a surface of the barrier which bears a contact adhesive.

5. A method according to any preceding Claim wherein a strongly acidic substance is applied to a metallic part of the barrier, in order to form a poisonous metallic salt.

6. A method according to any preceding Claim wherein the slug-repellant substance is alkaline.

7. A method according to any of Claims 1 to 5 wherein the slug-repellant substance is tannim.

8. A method of protecting plants from slugs substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawing.

9. A slug barrier comprising a plurality of interconnected components, a part of each component being coated with a slug-repellant

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION The protection of plants from slugs The present invention relates to a method for the protection of plants from slugs, and a slug barrier therefor. In a known method for the protection of plants from slugs an obstacle is placed around the plant or plants in the way of the slugs, by which they are forced, as they seek to crawl to the plant, to crawl in progressive movement, after climbing on the obstacle, towards the ground again and away from the plant at an angle of at least 300. While this method has been quite successful, it was apparent that a number of slugs are able to climb over the obstacle, in particular when the material used attracts slugs, such as, for example green, or synthetic materials. The present invention seeks to improve upon the above method to the extent of preventing these remaining slugs from negotiating the obstacle. According to the invention, at least a part of the slug barrier surrounding the plant or plants is painted with a slug-repellant substance. Such part typically comprises a portion bearing a surface facing the ground outside the barrier. The invention also provides a slug barrier comprising a plurality of interconnected components, a part of each component being coated with a slug-repellant substance. In preferred embodiments, each component comprises a wall portion and a flange portion, the slug-repellant substance being coated on a part of the flange portion. An enclosure is normally formed by a series of components, contiguous components overlapping. The components are connected by screws passing through holes aligned through overlapping flange portionS. Suitable slug-repellant substances are alkaline, such as soft soap. Another useful substance is tannim. The substance can conveniently be applied in the form of powder to a surface bearing a coating of contact adhesive. As the substance, or in addition thereto, a strongly acidic substance may be applied to a metallic part of the barrier, in order to form a poisonous metallic salt. The invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawing wherein: Figure 1 shows part of a slug barrier in perpsective view, and Figure 2 shows, in enlarged part cross-section, the connection of overlapping components of the barrier of Figure 1. As shown in the drawing, a vegetable 2 for example, growing in the ground 1, is protected from slugs by means of a slug barrier, which is comprised of structural components 4, 5, two of which are illustrated. Each of these components 4 and 5 has an insertion surface or wall portion 7, 10 and an inclined surface or flange portion 8, 11. The components 4 and 4 are preferably manufactured from galvanized sheet iron. As regards slug protection, also asbestos cement has proved to be successful, whilst for example wood, PVC and other synthetic materials are not recommended as they are apparently more conducive to slugs. The components 4, 5 as Figure 2 shows, overlap in the connection zone 13 and in each case define a passage 15, 16, which passages have differing distances from the fold edge, in order to ensure that the two passages are aligned and the two sheets, as illustrated, are able to be assembled together by means of for example, a screw. The difference in said distances is slightly greater than the thickness of the sheet. Of particular importance are the indicated underside regions 1 8 and 1 9 of the flange portions 8, 1 We have found that through coating at least the one region, preferably the underside region 18, by means of slug-repellant substances, slugs no longer climb over this edge and consequently plants and vegetables behind the slug barrier are safe from attack by slugs. Soft soap has proved to be the most successful as a very expedient substance in this respect as, when it is painted on the underside region 1 8 and distributed around the entire circumference or periphery of the slug barrier, it cannot be washed off by heavy rainfall, and therefore is able to carry out its barrier function even in the most critical period. The slug-repellent substance is preferably as neutral as possible, so that it remains stable for a long time. If it is basic, it reacts with the carbon dioxide of the air, and if very acidic, it reacts with metal or metallic oxide. The latter though, may have a positive effect on that some poisonous metallic salt; e.g., sodium bisulphate, is produced. CLAIMS

9. A slug barrier comprising a plurality of interconnected components, a part of each component being coated with a slug-repellant substance.

10. A slug barrier according to Claim 9 wherein each component comprises a wall portion and a flange portion, the slug-repellant substance being coated on a part of the flange portion.

1 A slug barrier according to Claim 10 wherein the components are arranged to form an enclosure with contiguous components overlapping, and wherein the components are connected by screws passing through holes aligned through overlapping flange portions.

12. A slug barrier substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawing.