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Subject: Please help identify my fig tree Replies: 17
Posted By: recomer20 Views: 952
 
In the pics, the pulp looks red, but you described it as amber. If its more golden-peachy inside than red, it's probably in the Brunswick family. I think I read there was significant commercial brunswick fig production in China (in the USA, there are many synonyms for Brunswick like Madonna and Magnolia). Another group of figs that have similar leaves (like Dalmatie, Vasilka Sika, and Bass's fig Eftakia (?)) originated from Greece and nearby Balkan areas and tend to be green or yellow with fairly bright red pulp. The Stella variety is supposedly Italian in origin, but looks similar to the mentioned Greek/Balkan varieties. Oh well, looks like you've definitely got a fig...whatever it may be :)

Stella

Brunswick

Subject: Too late to up pot and change mix? Replies: 18
Posted By: recomer20 Views: 485
 
There is a an old rule not to change things up to much once they sprout, but I haven't had much bad luck up-potting plants once they are somewhat established. I think the trick is to not disturb the roots too much. If you are planning on completely changing out the medium, I'll defer to others. I usually try to keep as much of the original rootball and medium intact and just add it to a larger pot with similar medium.  Be careful of adding new soil that is premixed with harsh fertilizers, it can burn the roots. Also allow for some transition time so you're not making a dramatic change in environment (too much water, too much sunlight, etc.) For me it takes a few weeks for the plant to adapt to the new pot. As far as baby fig-lets, these could be breba figs (generally not that desirable in most varieties) and the main crop will reset in  early summer.

Best of luck

Subject: Rooting in Coir Replies: 93
Posted By: recomer20 Views: 5,458
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by FMD
Quote:
Originally Posted by cyberfarmer
Frank, I just received this coir block: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003MOD2HY/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Could you please tell me how to hydrate it for rooting? Is it basically the same as moss? Soak it in a bucket of water, strain it, then squeeze it until you can barely get another drop out? 
Yes, that's pretty much all you need to do. You will find that it rarely needs to be wrung out. Coir can absorb quite a bit of water without getting overly saturated. It is the forgiving medium. Glad some of you are giving it a try. Please post pictures of your successes when available.




Thanks, that was my question, too (re: how to prep the coir).

Subject: Suspected eBay scammers with F4F ties Replies: 264
Posted By: recomer20 Views: 17,042
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by COGardener
Seems to me that anyone buying 25 cuttings of any one cultivar all at once should at least raise an eyebrow.  I have 2 cuttings of some cultivars and hope to get one tree, 8 cuttings of others and I'm not sure what I'm going to do with all of them when they are trees.  And that's just 8!!!


 

I remember when Armando used to kill at least 25 sticks a week << Just teasing', Armando! :) Glad to see your green thumb's growing in!  >>

Subject: LSU's Hammond Research Station Facebook Page Replies: 22
Posted By: recomer20 Views: 927
 
I see LSU's Hammond Research Station has its own Facebook page now:

https://www.facebook.com/pages/LSU-AgCenter-Hammond-Research-Station/222670654425080

Hammond has historical value for the LSU Fig Program as the place where Dr. Ed O'Rourke's figs were moved after the original fields were repurposed in the 70s (thanks to the efforts of Benny Williams). Dr. Wayne Bourgeois eventually moved them to Port Sulphur where they took off, leading to the LSU varieties we now enjoy in the marketplace. 

The Hammond Research Station is back at it again preparing a new field for figs and olives:

Fig varieties being planted - LSU Gold, LSU Purple, Tiger, O'Rourke, Champagne, Celeste, Texas Everbearing, Hardy Chicago, Southeast Brown Turkey, Magnolia, Marseilles, Kadota, Alma, Hollier, Smith, Scott's Black, and Hunt. April 2015.

Olive varieties being planted in April 2015 - Koroneiki, Maurino, Aglandau, Picual, Frantino, Grossane, Bouteillan, Manzanillo, Pendolino, Mission, Arbosana, and Arbequina.

Subject: When to say goodbye to cuttings Replies: 25
Posted By: recomer20 Views: 964
 
Hi TroyB, as a rule, most folks have had poor results with powdered hormone (seems to promote rot) -- although many swear by gel-type hormones. There were a few posts last year about (and some historical articles as well) about soaking sticks in warm/hot water to 'wake them up' prior to rooting. A number of folks agreed this helped. 

Subject: When to say goodbye to cuttings Replies: 25
Posted By: recomer20 Views: 964
 
For what what it's worth, sometimes cuttings just don't want to form roots at the bottom end, but you might get some at middle nodes instead. Baggy or moss box methods might give the cuttings more moisture around the midsection to produce root growth. Your cutting looks like one of those ideal "knotty" looking sticks that tend to produce roots from various nodes along the cutting. Keep at it!

Subject: Happy New Year! Replies: 19
Posted By: recomer20 Views: 463
 
Happy New Year!

Subject: What'd I miss?!? :) Replies: 8
Posted By: recomer20 Views: 449
 
Popping in to offer holiday greetings after a many months away. Hoping all had a wonderful harvest. 

Moved in to a new house and got caught up to my eyeballs in work right at the height of the season, and missed out on the good times. Gotta say I missed you all (well, most of you - Hohoho!) 

Mama C. had to take the reigns as it turned out to be an abundant year for figs. I don't know how many cans of figs she made, but I've certainly been regular for many months now. Even leggy Lemon produced some of the yummiest fig preserves I've ever had - I'd show you but they're all. gone. [Oh and OT If you haven't tried my Aunt Janice's lime-pickled green tomatoes, you folks are missing out on some crunchy goodness.]

fruits.jpg 

Have to say, I was just looking at scions on eBay (for the first time in ages) and I was astonished at the fair prices for a ridiculous assortment of some of the best figs available. A testament to all y'all's amazing work. Did I just see Black Madeira sticks for $13? Planet Fig is a strange and wondrous place.

Good luck to all the new folks and a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to the rest of you vagrants. 

Rick C.

Subject: Grandparents BT 50 years old Replies: 14
Posted By: recomer20 Views: 469
 
Thanks for the pic. Amazing shape!

Subject: Tallest fig trees Replies: 6
Posted By: recomer20 Views: 369
 
My lemon is close to 20 feet and clownishly leggy, but it had light competition from a neighboring ornamental tree. I think light competition is probably a key motivator. Other trees without competition in my yard tend to maintain their average height, although they tend to sprawl with age to overcome competition from the canopy. 

Subject: First ripe LSU Purple of the season + Inside Pics Replies: 9
Posted By: recomer20 Views: 530
 
EDIT (new Pics...2nd to ripen) P1010945.jpg  P1010936.jpg  P1010938.jpg  P1010939.jpg

Subject: First ripe LSU Purple of the season + Inside Pics Replies: 9
Posted By: recomer20 Views: 530
 
I kept thinking they were running late, but last week of July is about right on schedule for us. 

Subject: First ripe LSU Purple of the season + Inside Pics Replies: 9
Posted By: recomer20 Views: 530
 
Mini-drought followed by a few days of rain. The sun came out just enough today to bring this one to full color. I meant to show a pic of it open, but it jumped in my mouth. This year, the taste is more complex than I remember, and perfect balance of sweetness. 


P1010874.jpg  P1010907.jpg

Subject: Fig trees in Poland. Replies: 35
Posted By: recomer20 Views: 1,931
 
Welcome, Maris! 

Subject: Makedonia dark (from bass) rooting progress Replies: 3
Posted By: recomer20 Views: 459
 
Congrats! Looks like it's really starting to take off.

Subject: The News from Birmingham 7/13/14 Replies: 2
Posted By: recomer20 Views: 284
 
Thanks for the feedback. Tried to keep it watered consistently, but apparently didn't do a good enough job. The subsoil in Birmingham is very dense and rocky, makes it much harder to permeate without regular rain. This has been a struggle with Celeste in this spot for a number of years. If not the axe, then a new home might be a better solution.

Subject: The News from Birmingham 7/13/14 Replies: 2
Posted By: recomer20 Views: 284
 
It's mid-July and by now the in-ground LSU Purple should have its first fruits starting to change color. Several weeks of no rain (uncharacteristic for an Alabama summer) has all the fruit in stasis. Standard Celeste commenced fruit drop yesterday. Pretty sure it's time to give the ol' gal the axe.
IMG_0146.jpg 

LSU Purples should be beginning to color, but are behind (I think a good rain will kickstart them); however, they are holding fast and have a exemplary crop this year.
IMG_0140.jpg    

Pulled the first years out to give a good soaking this week. Our aussie Buddy has taken to the craft of fig herding. 
P1010765.JPG 

Although the LSUs have really shined this year, #hickoryfig's Hardy Chicago takes the cake for most growth (started as a cutting in January? and is already a handsome little tree). 
IMG_0152.jpg 

Also happy to report FMD's Alma Sisters have produced a fine children (Give those ladies my thanks, Frank!) and St Jean is slowly but surely beginning to put on quality growth.
IMG_0151.jpg  IMG_0157.jpg 

Prayers for rain, and best wishes to you all,
Rick C.

PS> Special thanks to Wills for helping me mark Battaglia off the wish list (hooray!). So much goodness comes out of this forum, it's really unbelievable at times.

Subject: LSU Golden Celeste? Replies: 9
Posted By: recomer20 Views: 509
 
The red ostiole in the center pic doesn't seem like LSU Purple or Celeste. Is is possible it actually is Black Mission and your heavy rain is keeping it from achieving the depth of color? 

Subject: --- yeah, this is IT, Strawberry Verte (PIX) Replies: 49
Posted By: recomer20 Views: 2,440
 
Thanks for the pics! Looks amazing!

Subject: Virus free Replies: 9
Posted By: recomer20 Views: 528
 
The Department of Plant Pathology at University of Arkansas, Fayetteville has published several major papers in recent years. If you are looking for a lab, they might be a place to start. 

Interesting blurb about Petite Nigra.  Is this the same as Petite Negri-EL ? A family member bought one from EL and it arrived with seriously deformed and what I've come to think of as classic FMV splotching. After a few months in the sun, it has overcome most of the symptoms, and has put in a few feet of growth. 

Subject: Ice Crystal Replies: 13
Posted By: recomer20 Views: 1,852
 
Please let us know the fruiting outcome. Seems there might be a number of varieties from central Asia/Persia that share the intricate leaf pattern but may differ in gender or type (Afghanistanica/johannis/SilverLyre/IceCrystal, etal.) Beautiful plant, though. Bass posted about a fruiting variety in an old thread: http://www.figs4funforum.websitetoolbox.com/post/Afghanistanica-2636916. Were you ever able to get more info about your contact in Israel?  Thanks

Subject: Battaglia Green Fig Replies: 7
Posted By: recomer20 Views: 1,067
 
Sybil Mays, who sold her nursery Paradise Nurseries in Virginia Beach area some years ago, helped to promote the cultivar. She received it from her friend Sandy Battaglia, hence the name. Sybil is still active in gardening and has an active gardening blog: http://usefulgardens.blogspot.com

It is suspected Battaglia is a superior strain of Verte (which Condit and others match to Green Ischia). An exact origin for the variety in general is difficult as Condit and others suggest close similarities in the Verte-types appear throughout the Mediterranean. 

Subject: stone at bottom of a pot Replies: 3
Posted By: recomer20 Views: 377
 
Like many people here, I let the weight of the pot help me know when to water (or when the media might be holding too much water). Adding heavy rocks in the bottom can be problematic in that sense.

Subject: California Commercial Fig Grower: Crop Conditions Replies: 62
Posted By: recomer20 Views: 1,393
 
Interesting a bit counterintuitive. Nice read, Harvey.

Subject: Lemon, last year growth 6/22/14 Replies: 3
Posted By: recomer20 Views: 425
 
Fantastic collection you've amassed, Blake. Is that all just this year?!?  Battaglia keeps alluding me. As does the free time to make it down towards your area. If you still have Battaglia available later this year and looking to part with one, I'll be happy to pay. You have every cultivar I have to trade. Hopefully next year the first years all be big enough to air layer. How's your MBVS's coming along? Mine are still tiny after many months.

Subject: Decided to up pot Replies: 23
Posted By: recomer20 Views: 879
 
May be a regional product, but Evergreen Soil Conditioner contains a lot of pine bark fines. A product of Muscle Shoals, AL, but found in all the local big box home improvement stores. I'm using it quite a bit this season for uppottings. Plants seem to really enjoy it as we get quite a bit of rain and the product seems to keep things from getting too soggy and compacted.http://www.walmart.com/ip/Evergreen-Soil-Conditioner-2-cu-ft/16793735

Subject: Decided to up pot Replies: 23
Posted By: recomer20 Views: 879
 
Looking good, Phil! 

Subject: Lemon, last year growth 6/22/14 Replies: 3
Posted By: recomer20 Views: 425
 
First fig of the season was a Lemon fruit from last year's growth (breba?). Large, sweet but skin a little thick and tough. Dropped off the tree on its own. Shape has a long, thick neck compared to main season fruit which has hardly any neck at all. I've paid more attention this year to determine if there was a distinction between main crop and breba (or whether the "breba" was really just last year's fruit that went into dormancy and would have otherwise fruited late season). But seems to be a significant difference. 
lemon open 4.jpg  lemon open2.jpg  lemon open3.jpg  lemon fig.jpg    

Subject: Covering pots / Rainguards Replies: 11
Posted By: recomer20 Views: 675
 
Thanks for feedback. Might test white garbage bag plastic (like the heavy compactor bags) across top and see what happens.  JD: Most are in 3 gallon standard nursery pots (not SIPS) with 1-inch holes around the base. 

Subject: Covering pots / Rainguards Replies: 11
Posted By: recomer20 Views: 675
 
Too much rain lately for the potted kids. Looking at ways to protect from rain. Some regional varieties love it, others seem a little tired of the past few weeks' thunderstorms.

Bill Muzychko's covers on his SIPS look great (linked from http://figs4fun.com/bills_figs.html):  [FP866-25%20800]

 Any thoughts on the subject and what your methods are would be appreciated. I'd also like to say that I worry that covering a wet pot in hot weather might create a pressure cooker (or rot fest) for potted plants. Thought on this as well?

Thanks!

Subject: lsu purple Replies: 28
Posted By: recomer20 Views: 1,510
 
For those of us in north central Alabama (and I'd suspect the ATL area as well), a good LSU Purple is a magnificent thing to have. Sorry to keep chiming in, but I love this tree so much...such a sturdy, headache-free plant. Mine doesn't display any FMV (which I suspect may make it better equipped to handle the stress of our erratic weather). Began to fruit as an in-ground tree at age 3. But worth the wait. At age 5 we canned 30 (!!!) pints of fig preserves from the one tree. Production volume may vary, but fruit quality remains consistent year to year. This year, it displayed very little die-back, which surprised me. Now, at around 9-10 y/o it's an 8-trunk monstrosity and will have plenty of cuttings to share in the fall (our production season for LSUP ends by first of September). PM me around that time if you are still looking. Happy to share.  Although keeping them alive all winter was a chore, rooting fresh-cut cuttings in the fall gave me close to 100% success with this one. 

Subject: From MI to FL Replies: 7
Posted By: recomer20 Views: 564
 
Wow, Negretta's coloration is pretty amazing.

Subject: Prayer and thoughts Replies: 43
Posted By: recomer20 Views: 985
 
Thoughts are with you, Charles!

Subject: lsu purple Replies: 28
Posted By: recomer20 Views: 1,510
 
Leaf variation in LSU Purple (all pics are from either the parent tree or cuttings from same tree. The more longer, more defined lobes are from 1st year cuttings in pots, the T-shaped Hardy Chicago looking leaves are from suckers, and the rest are variants in the parent tree. Source: Petals from the Past c. 2004?) The main difference between mine and Tina's first pic, is mine has 3 lobes w/ two well-formed thumbs. Never 5-lobes + 2 thumbs. Just an observation. That said, the nature of a breeding program suggests there are likely several variants of the LSUPurple (plus likely numerous others in a spectrum between Purple and the other LSU Black variants). http://s173.photobucket.com/user/rcomerbhamal/library/LSU%20Purple%20Leaf%20variation%20-%20PftP

Subject: lsu purple Replies: 28
Posted By: recomer20 Views: 1,510
 
Dunno, Tina. LSU Purple can be highly variant in leaf shape (especially in their first few months...anywhere from single lobed to the a sort of T-shaped MtEtna type leaf), but my dominant leaf looks like this--broad-lobed. Your figlets also look more turbinate (flattened heads) than mine. LSU Purple figs are generally very much a stereotypical pyriform shape.  Your looks healthy and productive at any rate. Hope it gives you some great figs! 

Lsupurpleleaf.jpg 

Subject: The news from Birmingham 5/31/14 Replies: 0
Posted By: recomer20 Views: 362
 
A too-cool Spring has become alternating days of hot sun and rainstorms. The outdoor figs are enjoying it, with Celeste and LSU Purple both packing on main crops. The natural pinching of this past winter's freezes seems to have done them both a favor.  Leggy Lemon is so tall that air layers will require borrowing a ladder from the neighbor--good grief that thing is ridiculous looking! 

Happy to report St.Jean has just put on its fourth leaf (Gardening, like parenting, is often a fine line between joy and shame).

A couple of things I thought I'd share. LSU Purple does indeed have a breba crop. I'd never noticed before, but made a point after someone asked. This year the ol' man graced us with *drumroll* a single breba. 

lsup_breba.jpg 

Thought I'd also share a pic of early set of Celeste main crops. Noticed that flowers have quite long pedicles. Maybe that will be a useful ID info  for someone (?) Thanks to regular rain, no fruit drop so far. Woohoo! celeste-stalks.jpg 

 A bit OT, but happy to see the aptly named 'Shrimp Plant' (j. brandegeeana) has survived the winter. These remind me so much of growing up on the GulfCoast as a kid: I thought if you planted a shrimp you'd get a shrimp plant. Always happy to see them in bloom again. 

shrimpplant1.jpg  shrimpplant2.jpg 

Best to all,
Rick

Subject: Fig Spa Day Replies: 22
Posted By: recomer20 Views: 624
 
Just a little sun shower :)

Subject: Black Italian fig from GreenLeaf. Anyone have any experience with these? Replies: 25
Posted By: recomer20 Views: 3,037
 
Wow! Great size. I acquired "Becnel's Italian Black" from a certain sassy Texan several months  back. Took me a while to get it going from a cutting and even now it's tiny, but remarkably beautiful and tending to create many clusters of leaves. Looks so similar to yours wonder if IB and BI might be the same (although I have no reference or experience other than this little one). Props for adopting such a beautiful specimen. The leaves really are something.
BecnelBlack.jpg 

Subject: New here.... my story Replies: 16
Posted By: recomer20 Views: 762
 
Welcome.

I'd guess the cuttings biz is a tricky one. If there's a ready niche in the fig world, it would be supply of Negronne/Violette de Bordeaux 1 gallon rooted plants. This is a great variety that is respected by fig folks whose popularity is beginning to grow among a much larger crowd of general gardeners and "regular folks" who want something better than average.  Certainly there are many people who won't pay $75 for a piece of chopped up branch (Not everyone thinks like we do :P) But they will pay $30 for a decent looking potted plant that guarantees a fine fruit. Currently all the major nurseries are sold out of Negronne/VdB until 2015. If I were looking to concentrate efforts into a fig business, that would probably be my best bet. The more rare figs (cuttings) often carry with them some level of importance based on who is selling and where they come from. There's some skepticism at play when an unknown person enters that arena. Potted plants, however, is another story. It's certainly more labor intensive and costly to bring a potted plant to market, but I think a potted Negronne/VdB will be in demand for a good while and will probably endure as a favorite top-shelf- yet-affordable variety for decades to come. And since nurseries are selling out, you won't be stepping on toes...just supplementing the market.  Just my two cents.

Best of luck in all your endeavors. 

Subject: Newbie - how much water? Replies: 8
Posted By: recomer20 Views: 528
 
The "barely water" rule applies to cuttings and babies. And again, during harvest week--some figs split with too much watering. Once a plant has a suitable amount of roots and is actively growing with a decent amount of leafage, watering isn't a huge issue. Some cultivars prefer more or less water, but they'll let you know.  Just try to make sure the pot drains well and doesn't stay soaked all the time or sit in standing water for so long that it rots.  Once autumn comes, and trees go dormant ease off: without leaves and growth, the chance of overwatering is again an issue....that's if you are keeping everything in pots.

Big pots can be deceiving. It might be bone dry on the top 3 inches of depth, and a soggy mess down below. Might stick your finger in there to make sure. 

Even well watered plants' leaves will wilt a little on scorching days. If by evening the leaves haven't begun to perk up, then you might test for watering. All that said, an actively growing tree with good root growth can stand a good bit of water.

Best of luck!

Subject: To those I owe trades... Replies: 42
Posted By: recomer20 Views: 1,463
 
Dang, Howie! Sorry to hear about your accident, but congrats on amassing such a spectacular collection. Hope your figs find homes that will appreciate them.

Best wishes for your recovery and new business venture.

Subject: Outdoor Rooting Experiment Replies: 13
Posted By: recomer20 Views: 716
 
Have you seen the GW thread "Fig Fever in Europe"? (Google-able) Interesting Hungarian method of rooting masses of fig scion in sand berms. (scroll down quite a bit in the mentioned thread). Interesting technique if you have a bunch of scions.

Subject: Hydroponic result Replies: 16
Posted By: recomer20 Views: 777
 
Those roots are spectacular, Jimmy! Amazing job. 

PS> Thanks for the Sal's Gene earlier this season: super healthy & really starting to take off.

Subject: Showing off my cuttings Replies: 37
Posted By: recomer20 Views: 983
 
Looks great, Frank! Hope you're enjoying today's autumn weather :) 

Subject: Saint Jean: 3rd times the charm Replies: 11
Posted By: recomer20 Views: 605
 
Glad to see I'm not alone. Since this was a "surprise" batch of cuttings for me, really hoping to get it to the point where I can regift cuttings back into the community. (Although air layers might be the real answer.) Best of luck to all. Please feel free to post your fails and successes:  I think it might be useful to come up with "best practices" for specific cultivars at some point. Especially with the hard to root ones.    BTW I lost my single Byadi cutting from Encanto....hurts doesn't it? Felt like a deadbeat dad.

Subject: Saint Jean: 3rd times the charm Replies: 11
Posted By: recomer20 Views: 605
 
Finally! After the first stick of SaintJean rotted in a sphag bin although other [cultivar] cuttings in virtually identical sphag bins did great; and the second which did nothing in a perlite tub (later to become a failed graft); the 3rd and final cutting was placed rootless in a pot of barely-moist potting soil (the mulch type) and placed in a lidded bin (slightly cracked open). I thought this would be the least likely to be successful, but having struck out twice, I was desperate. After well over a month, ol' John has finally poked his head out. Thank goodness..I was really upset at the thought of losing them all.  Looks like he might be here to stay! 

I saw HarveyC's SaintJean on ebay a while back and was so jealous. Hat's off, Harvey! This one really was a challenge for me.
 
FYI Plant was taken out to have its picture taken. It usually lives in a clear plastic bin below a fixture of 4 t5 fluorescent tubes at a near constant temp of 75*F--potting soil stays much dryer than most other cultivars I've rooted. In this case, I took cues from others and buried about 3/4 of the cutting..which I think made a big difference. Not sure at which nodes the roots sprouted, because it was potted before root initials were present.

grise st jean.jpg 




Subject: VDB fig tree wilting and drooping Replies: 56
Posted By: recomer20 Views: 7,206
 
I noticed some of my black nursery pots were hot as heck in the sun. Moved them to a place--still in sun--where I could half bury the pots in pine straw. They seem much better now. I think most varieties like heat on the leaf, cool around the roots. Anyone else vouch for this? (Just an observation, and I could be off the mark.)

Subject: Help with an ID please Replies: 12
Posted By: recomer20 Views: 746
 
Looks like a butterfly snacking on a split-open Brunswick/Madonna.

Subject: Help with an ID please Replies: 12
Posted By: recomer20 Views: 746
 
Sounds like a wonderful project, Michael. The article above was interesting because it suggests figs came to the States via the Caribbean earlier than figs were introduced to Britain (meaning Jefferson was not constrained to varieties he discovered while in England and France in 1780s). We do know he (and Adams?) visited the Oxford Botanical Gardens in 1786 while on a diplomatic tour. From a historical perspective, there are several varieties we know would have been in England at the time:  see Sir David Brewster  
the Ischias keep coming up in British texts (particularly the Brown Ischia: do we know what this is? It seems Jefferson mentioned this as well?)

BTW I second Brent's call on the last pic being very much like Celeste. Here's my heirloom Celeste photos to compare (3 lobes with or without thumbs):  celeste heirloom leaf.jpg 

Thanks for the info on Battaglia... I'd never heard that info before. I have a BG on order from Fred at RabbitRidge...think I might need to send him a reminder :)