THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 
              Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Sunday, July 30, 1995                  TAG: 9507280090
SECTION: HOME                     PAGE: G2   EDITION: FINAL 
COLUMN: GARDENING REMINDERS
                                             LENGTH: Medium:   52 lines

KILLER SNAILS ELIMINATE OTHER SNAILS AND SOME SLUGS

THERE'S A NEW way to control snails and slugs, say Virginia Tech experts. Tech's Bill Dimock writes: ``The Decollate or killer snail is extremely territorial toward other snails. It uses slime trails to search nearby nesting areas and feeds on all stages of the destructive garden snail. It does not travel great distances but is very persistent, providing up to 100 percent control, totally replacing pest snail populations over time. It also provides 50 percent control of slugs. The Decollate snail does not feed on live plants. Recommended release rates are three per 200 square feet or three snails per large plant or shrub. In orchards, release five snails per tree.''

Prices are not known, but Dimock lists four suppliers: Foothill Ag Research, 510 W. Chase Drive, Corona, Calif. 91720; Rincon-Vitoria Insectauris, P.O. Box 95, Oak View, Calif. 93022; Associates Insectary, P.O. Box 969, Santa Paula, Calif. 93060; and Bozeman Bio-Tech, 1612 Gold Ave., Boseman, Mont. 59772.

Please, readers who purchase and use the Decollate snails write us and share your analysis of cost vs. effectiveness. SUPER TOMATOES

Every year about this time there is debate over who can grow the largest tomato. Experts say one of the best and most prolific ``beefsteak'' type tomatoes is Burpee Supersteak. Last season a new beefsteak called OG 50 (Organic Gardening 50) drew raves. It's a whopper. For more information on OG 50, write Organic Gardening Magazine, Emmaus, Penn. 18049. ENGLISH GARDEN TOUR

One of the best English garden tour schedules I've seen in a long time arrived from Expo Garden Tours. The tour, from Sept. 13-23, includes Hever Castle, Sissinghurst, Bodnant Gardens and other gardens in the Cotswolds, Wales and Lake District, some of the prettiest areas in the British Isles. Cost is $3,212. Call (800) 448 -2685. VOLUNTARY ORTHO RECALL

Solaris, the manufacturers of Ortho products, is asking consumers to assist in a voluntary recall of certain mislabled Ortho Multi-Purpose Fungicide Daconil 2787 in green plastic one-pint containers. The recalled product has a Daconil label on the front of the container but a label for Sevin Liquid Carbaryl Insecticide 2 on the back of the container. If you have the mislabled product, call the Recall Hotline (800) 822-8052, 10:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. by CNB