In a message dated 31/07/01 12:25:08 GMT Daylight Time,
alanreevesuk@xxxxxx.co.uk writes:
<< The key for me is the fermentation process that occurs
naturally in organic deposition with lots of other
fungi competing and producing antibiotic substances to
combat pathogens. As Percy Thrower and Mr Smith used
to advocate, it's the composting and turning over at
least two years that makes for good mulch.
The thought of chipping an Armillaria riddled stump
and liberally applying the freshly prepared inoculum
still fills me with horror. Ditto Meripilus >>
Yeah, my brain mills these things over and concludes something very similar
Alan. However two years? is that excessive? How long does it take to rot down
thoroughly? I've left woodchips on the truck overnight and had them steaming
thoroughly the next day. I heard ADAS were going to do some research but then
heard no more.
Now when it comes to spreading a freshly prepared inoculum from an Armillaria
riddled stump it sounds bad, but doesn't this 'latent decay fungi' theory
suggest that the fungi are present anyway? And when it comes to this
principle how did nature cope? I assume that some trees died of Armillaria in
the wild and presumably they shed their 'riddled' parts beneath them. The
trees survived despite this. Mind you I suppose the 'pioneers' colonising the
space were probably different species to the 'climax' trees, maybe Armillaria
resistant?
I believe that the largest organism on the planet is a patch of Armillaria in
a wood in Oregon somewhere. Not knowing what sort of Armillaria is a problem
but the wood still sounds like its a wood, not a dead wood! Armillaria just
doesn't seem to work like that although I accept that I may only see things
from my narrow view. (Sorry out with Ted Green on Saturday!)
Sorry to hear about your slipped disc. Touch wood; I've never suffered back
problems much, disc trouble sounds horrible.
Cheers.
Bill.
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