Insert string into a mysql TEXT column (BLOB) (VB.NET)

Does any one know how to insert Text into a mysql TEXT column (BLOB) ? . .
I am using the .net Connector (mysql.data.dll)


I tried using a byte array and also a stream with no Luck . . .

My Byte array attempt looked something like this




Public Shared Function StrToByteArray(ByVal str As String) As Byte()


Dim encoding As New System.Text.ASCIIEncoding


Return encoding.GetBytes(str)


End Function 'StrToByteArray








My Stream attempt looked something like


Function ConvertToStream(ByVal txt As String) As ADODB.Stream


Dim stm As ADODB.Stream


stm = New ADODB.Stream


Dim oFile As System.IO.File


Dim oWrite As System.IO.StreamWriter


oWrite = oFile.CreateText(Application.StartupPath & "\temp.text")


oWrite.WriteLine(txt)


oWrite.Close()


With stm


stm.Type = ADODB.StreamTypeEnum.adTypeText


.Charset = "ascii"


.Open()


.LoadFromFile(Application.StartupPath & "\temp.text")


.Position = 0


' txtComments.Text = .ReadText


End With


Return stm


End Function