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More Fig Confusion?

Vivian, I should have bought the O'Rourke from Dalton when I was there last fall, but they had no leaves on them to compare. I didn't want to get another like I already have two of. I'm going back early summer for  that one and a couple others. Let us know if you have a chance to talk to Dr. Mayer. It would be interesting to know what kind of virus it was that would kill established trees.Gees!

Dennis, thanks for the pic.again. My supposed O'Rourke from JR had a couple small Celeste looking figs last fall that weren't that great. They looked nothing like your (Dennis') picture, so the mystery continues. Maybe I'll get a somewhat normal crop this season to compare it further.
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There is no mystery to the LSU fig confusion. The LSU figs got into the hands of private collections LONG BEFORE LSU officially released them to the public.  Once funding was halted for the fig breeding program, no one paid much attention to the test orchards at LSU except a few outside fig lovers who knew about those figs. Outsiders obtained cuttings from the better selections. LSU likely doesn't have some of the original "lost" Dr. O'Rourke selections that have made in into the hands of private collecions. 

FYI, JR gets his fig cuttings from multiple sources. If you purchased one of his O'Rourke or Improved Celeste fig trees.......better check the leaf lobes to see which one it is. However, both are very good figs.......just not the same cultivar.

Dan
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Hi Tim,

My Durio's O'Rourke is leafing out nicely and I'll be watching it closely to see how it compares to my IC, which is putting out all kinds of little leaves, as well.  My three Hunt trees are really leafing out with some larger leaves than any of the others, so far.  The tiny tip I rooted that was cut off the damaged tip of the Hunt I got from JF&E is merrily growing away already after just a brief dormant period of a few weeks and it stayed out all winter under the carport with several of the trees I got last fall.  I'm surrounded by babies and juvies and loving it.

I sure don't blame you for being hesitant to buy a tree that might end up just being the same as two others you already have even if the ICs are delicious figs, IMO.

Will you let me know when you're planning on coming over this way?  It would be nice to meet you.  Maybe I could run up to Durio's and see you there?  Just a thought.

I'll see if I can talk to Dr. Mayers about the virus.  I also would like to know what it was.  I know a lot of Celestes disappeared a few years ago, but I thought people just cut them down.

When I went over to his house to buy some figs like I'd done when the kids were still living at home, there wasn't a Celeste to be seen in his yard.  He had only the ICs, or O'Rs.  Not sure anymore as it didn't mean anything to me at the time, but I'm prettty sure it was ICs and they were so good.  He has his trees growing under black plastice with drip irrigation systems and that seems to work so well for all these years. 

As of last year, he still was operating on the honor system and has a locked wooden box in the back yard where people can walk in and pick out veggies and fruits and stick the cash through the slot in the top of the box.  I should have been taking advantage of his garden all these years, but forgot about it until last year.  I never think about people getting old and things changing until I'm hit in the face with it.

Vivian
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Vivian, I sure will let you know when I head that way again. I'd like to meet you too. Dr. Mayes garden sounds wonderful . Both mine have 3 & 5 lobed leaves, so they should be O'Rourke. Hopefully, we'll get a better picture this year.
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Hi V, are you saying that your trees have leaves already.
"gene"
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