Kevin, I had the same experience with Mr. Robin - it's a real pleasure talking to him.
This link was posted once before. I thought you might enjoy seeing it if you had missed it.

Here is a link that might be useful: Mr. Robin

Mr. Robin is the greatest. I also speak with him at least weekly. Yesterday he told me a joke. A man stopped at a service station in Opelousas and asked the attendant (Boudreaux): What's the best way to get from Opelousas to Lafayette? Boudreaux asked him what he was driving. The man said "a car". Boudreaux said: "That's the best way to ge there - a car".

It's a very demanding task to nurse a love one in need of help. Have came across a few cases like that & its touching and when asked, the response was the other party would likewise do the same. So guys if your in communication with Mr.Robins, please tell him for me its a pleasure to know that he cares so much for his wife.

When I called James & ordered some plants, I told him I might just drive down there (288mi) and meet him, he asked had I ever been to opelousas, I told him I helped wear out Hy 190 back in the 60's, Me & James are about the same age (71) He told me if I was coming from Tx. on 190 for me to turn right on Hy 357, he was 2 mi & a little bit on the right, Darn right I can relate, Me & him have lotz in common.

Cecil

This statement piqued my interest:
"he uses sugar in his soil and hasn't seen nematodes ever since."

Anybody know any more about this sugar?

I don't think sugar kills nematodes. I seem to remember reading somewhere that sugar water is passed through soil to extract nematodes for research purposes. I think they become suspended in the syrup.

I have not read anything to indicate that it does anything than help remove them from soil (no benefit to infected roots).

~james

I know this is an old post but I want to order some figs from Mr. James, I spoke to him last summer and did not get an order in. I also cannot stress enough, like everyone else, on how nice of a gentleman.
I will try to order this fall, my dad and sister want in on this hobby so check them off my Christmas list with some fig trees.
Is the above list current on what he has, I will guess that Celeste and LSU Gold are very popular and he has these two types.

I think the sugar in the soil jacks the beneficial bacteria sky high and helps to keep the nematodes away. It also adds to the organic component.

-Bill

Sugar will draw water, so it may dessicate the nematode; I have no explanation but it is worth investigating.

Has anyone asked Mr. Robin about the amounts of sugar he puts into his potting mix? If anyone is to do a controlled study that would certainly be a place to start. He is a fine man and I'm sure he would be happy to share his information. I've only bought from him once, but I would not hesitate to buy again if he had something I wanted.

My guess is that figs are growing all over the warm parts of the world with nematodes and that under ordinary circumstances they are not a serious threat.

Also, I have read that in healthy soils with a good population of earthworms the nematode cannot thrive. Anyone have any ideas there?
Ox

I have ordered several fig trees from Mr. Robin over the last couple of years. While talking to Mr. Robin on the phone he asked me if there are any Chinkapin trees in my area. If so he would like some seeds from the tree. I asked around and found out that all the Chinkapin trees in my area have died out. I asked my dad who lives in South Jersey if he knew of any Chinkapin trees in his area. Dad said that there was one in a small park in our home town. When I visited my parents I picked up some seeds from that tree and sent them to Mr. Robin. I did not put them in a box, but in a large envelope. By the time Mr. Robin got them the post office had smashed them to powder. The next time I went to South Jersey to get some more seeds, much to my dismay the tree had been cut down. If anyone knows where they can get some seeds from a Chinkapin tree would you send them to Mr. Robin.

Other names and spelling of the Chinkapin tree: Allegheny Chinkapin, Common Chinkapin, Chinquapin.

Vern

Vern,

I have got lots of Chinkapin oaks around here, but they are all still on the tree. I don't think they will help him
in that green state, Do you know if they will?
We are planning a trip down JR's way next month, we could carry some to him if green ones will work, if not, I can send him some when they fall!

If I have to I'll call him
Regards
Cecil

I checked google for Chinkapin, I don't think that is what I have (wrong looking leafs)

I had never heard about Chinkapin, some googling revealed
that (sadly) due to some desease, they are on a down-fall.

Here is a link that might be useful: Nuts about trees

Cecil, you are right Chinkapin oak is different than the Chinkapin Mr. Robin wants. The kind of Chinkapin Mr. Robin wants has a pod something like a sweet gum tree has, but smaller.

Vern

George,

They are related to chestnuts and often are typically smaller than chestnuts and not quite as tasty. They are susceptible to the blight which wiped out almost all American chestnut trees (Castanea Dentata). In the next few years they will have a Chinese-American hybrid that is almost 100% American and will be near immune to the blight. Perhaps they will start to look at the Chinkapin next.

Now Im hungry for chestnuts! The ones i get from the store are usually from Italy (Castenea Sativa) Like figs, chestnuts (Castanea Sativa varietey) are thought to have come from Asia minor (Turkey) and spread around the Mediterranean by Alexander the Great. But they hate calcium so you dont always find chesnuts and figs side by side.

Ok ill stop my history lesson.

Good to hear that about the chestnut, there was not sure if its still there i have not been there in about 15 years but near antuque store a huge old chestnut tree only one ive seen in this area, on this subject further i bought a princeton elm thats dutch elm disease resistent, its grown into a rather beautiful tree. When growing up in the mid 1960s they cut em all down in our neighborhood and i remember actually crying when they marked ours and came by and cut it i was kid at the time .The princeton is a true American Elm not crossed with anything.
Here is a nice link if interested.
http://www.americanelm.com/our_trees.html
Mr Robin sounds like a rare breed nowadays the way he does buisness and how reasonable he is with his prices, invites one in his home to chat over coffee indeed thats not too common anymore so it seems.

James Robin is a Cajun and his last name is pronounced "Row Baah". I've had coffee with him in his kitchen the very first time I met him. As I travel through out the southern part of Louisiana (Cajun territory) in search of those old heirloom figs, I've had coffee, wine, and soft drinks with quite a few of these old timers as we talked about our common interest.......cooking, fruit, and figs. Many Cajun men love to cook and like to talk about that subject too. You know when you are really on their good side and made a new friend when they bake a pan of biscuits or prepare toast with fig preserves to go with that cup of coffee. Yes, some like James are that friendly.

Dan

Mr. Robin is a very nice person. I purchased four fig trees from him last year and if my chinquapin ever bears nuts I would love to send him some.

The source I got my tree from was "MailOrderNatives" :

Link: http://www.mailordernatives.com/servlet/Categories?category=Trees+%26+Shrubs&searchpath=29570&start=25&total=130

Castanea pumila (Chinquapin)
Castanea pumila (Chinquapin) 30-40ft; attractive foliage on upswept branches; small nuts taste like chestnuts and are great for people and wildlife! Yellow fall color. Zone 5-9 SIZE: bareroot seedling 18-24 inches
Price: $8.00