L’ESCARGOTS
From page 30
growing under normal
conditions, and a paler snail is
more desired by chefs, says
Micallef.
He houses about 100 snails
per crate.
Outdoors, snails face a
number of predators,
including rats and mice,
lizards, geckos and birds, so
the grower's first precaution is
against loss from these causes.
This is achieved by enclosing
the growing area in an
impenetrable barrier wall.
This can be brick-built but
corrugated iron sheets, or
even rubber conveyor belt,
the lower edge of which is
buried about 15cm into the
ground, can be used. The
remainder of the sides and
the “roof” are covered in
shade netting, sewn tight to
prevent the ingress of pests.
Greenhouse tunnels covered
in shadenet rather than
plastic, with a solid impene-
trable perimeter at the base,
would make ideal, readymade growing structures, says
Micallef.
The snails themselves are
housed in rectangular beds
with pathways between to
facilitate maintenance,
feeding and harvesting. In
Micallef's case the beds are
about 75cm wide to allow
access from both sides
Continued on page 33
Outdoor snail housing showing vertical shadecloth to increase the
overall surface area
32
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