30 March 2016

Using and upgrading the Research Laboratory

Last updated on 10 May with link to more recent post that includes all Tech Recipes for Stove House and more:

Research Laboratory Topics, Upgrades and Stove House Recipes

Please note that gaps remain.  I am struggling with a cancer situation at the moment...but will do my best to consolidate and complete all of this.  There are many duplicated bits of information as well....



Research Laboratory
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I was reluctant to engage in the activities of the Research Laboratory initially.  It reminded me of all the reasons I became disillusioned with Zynga games frankly.  Unfortunately, it is becoming critical to the game and all three of the new options in the form of the Stove House, the Coffee House and the Research Laboratory are linked.  You can play Family Farm Seaside without participating in these options but I believe you will find it increasingly difficult to advance in the game.  Furthermore, the Buddy system is linked to these new options and again, without participating in that, you will find yourself shut out of many activities ultimately

I have written an extensive post on the Buddy System.  Once upon a time, in the days when I began to play Seaside, it was fairly simple for new farmers to understand how the game worked.  That no longer is the case.  I will have to revise my post on 'Starting a New Farm' because it is very important now to begin to build up Buddy relationships as soon as you unlock the option.   That, however, although relevant to the Research Laboratory, is not part of its workings.

Here is a link to my post on the Buddy System, which has been updated to reflect new addtions to the game:

Buddy System and Updates

Introduction to the Laboratory
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Farmium and the use of the various Active Techs as well as unlocking and upgrading the Passive Techs are the basis of the Research Laboratory.  Farmium appears in your pull-down menu at the bottom as a narrow vial filled with purple liquid.

Coffee House and Research Laboratory
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The Coffee House and Research Laboratory are inextricably intertwined.  You will be able to upgrade your Lab Storehouse only if you have the Lab Storehouse Shelf/Shelves required as materials at each Level.  Upgrading your Lab Storehouse is necessary, not primarily for the extra slots it will give but because raising it to Level 3 is a requirement if you wish to progress to unlock new rare Crops or Trees for Cropology and Treeology.  A Lab Storehouse Shelf is a reward given when you complete a specific number of Orders in the Coffee House.  Other Coffee House Rewards are special Stove House Recipes.

Thus, unless you are willing to complete Coffee House orders, you never will be able to grow any of the special Crops or Trees apart from the initial one that is given to you.


Warning:  You can have a total of 600 Farmium initially.  If you earn more Farmium without using the 600 Farmium, it will be wasted.  The total does not increase.  It therefore is necessary to use your Farmium if you want the Farmium you earn by opening Daily Quest Chests to be given to you.  On a daily basis, you can earn 100 Farmium with each of the Daily Quest Chests that you open.  That gives you a total of 300 Farmium per day.

Furthermore, Farmium can be refilled if you have the tech that allows this.  There are two Passive Techs that control this: Farmium Recharge and Farmium Containers.  The first allows your Farmium to recharge until you reach Maximum.  The second gives you a Container that actually allows you to hold this Farmium...  you cannot, however, increase the maximum!

Thus, the Daily Quest path has become more vital to players who are engaged in any activities with respect to the Research Laboratory.  Even if you do not have any particular interest in the advanced options in the Laboratory, I do advise all farmers to level up to the point where they can unlock and use the Gold Finger Tech and then concentrate their efforts on increasing the level of THAT Tech.  If you are seriously interested in growing rare seeds and trees, you will need to upgrade and use OTHER advanced Techs but for ALL players, the Gold Finger Active Tech can be extremely useful.

The key here is USE of the Techs.  It is use of the various Active Techs that increases the basic Level of the Research Laboratory itself.  It is use of the individual Tech that usually is a requirement for increasing the level of THAT Tech.  Gold Finger is the second Active Tech that you can unlock and by using it and making specific Dishes in the Kitchen, you will be able to upgrade that Tech as well as earning the Tech Points that will take you to the next upgrade of the actual Laboratory.

It is important to realise that the Research Laboratory is not linear in nature.  This makes it very different from other options in Family Farm Seaside where A leads to B and then to C... Missions are all linear in nature.  You complete one set of tasks in order to unlock a new set of tasks.

It may appear complicated and indeed, it is easy to become distracted as the Laboratory is only linear in nature at the very start.  I will create a step-by-step list of actions that the Farmer who is NOT particularly interested in advanced options should follow.

As of October 2018, two new Research Topics in the form of Zoology and Mechology have been added.  Here is a link to the post that deals with these in detail:

Zoology and Mechology Topics, Upgrades and Recipes

Step-by-Step Actions
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Step 1: Flight of the Bumblebee
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With 600 Farmium, you can use the basic 'Flight of the Bumblebee' Tech 12 times.  Each use requires 50 Farmium and gives you 5 points towards your Research Laboratory upgrade.  You will need a total of 120 Points to attain a Level 2 Laboratory.  In other words, you have to keep using the Flight of the Bumblebee Tech until you have obtained 120 points.  What that means is that you will need a total of 25 times before you can unlock the NEXT and in my view, the really useful Active Tech for a Farmer who wishes to concentrate on other aspects of the game but have some benefit from the Research Laboratory.

Step 2: Unlocking Gold Finger
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When you reach 120 Laboratory Points, the second Active Tech in the form of Gold Finger will be unlocked.  Note, however, that you have to complete a little mini-quest as well before you actually unlock the ability to USE the Tech.

The little initial Quest that gives you the Level 1 Gold Finger Tech is simple.  You need to have reached Level 13 in the game, produce 10 glasses of Apple Juice and harvest 30 Lavender.  Once you complete these three tasks or requirements, you will be able to use Gold Finger at Level 1.

At Level 1, Gold Finger can be used on the Holstein Cow and the Cheese Master.  Every use of Gold Finger requires 20 Farmium and gives you 2 Tech Points towards the next upgrade level of the actual Laboratory.

It is here that you can make a choice whether or not to pursue the advanced options aggressively or simply to concentrate on Gold Finger, the Tech that will help you in your daily farming efforts.  Upgrading Gold Finger will allow you to use the Tech on MORE Machines and Animals.  It can be really useful.

The actual requirements for attaining each new Level of Gold Finger are given below.  Basically though, it is not that difficult to upgrade the Gold Finger Tech to Level 4, allowing you to use it on a wide variety of Machines and Animals, including the Angora Rabbit, the Dutch Mill, Chicken Coop, Buffalo, Limousin Cattle, Goat, Pig, Burger Machine and Wine Machine.

At Level 4, you can use Gold Finger on ALL the above without having ANY of the ingredients that would be required if you attempt to collect products from the Animal or Machine in any other way.  This is why I urge players to use the Research Laboratory at least to this stage.

Level 5 allows you to use Gold Finger on ANY Animal or Machine but many of the ones that are not listed above will require ingredients.  It is only the ones that are available at Level 4 or lower that do not require any ingredients when Gold Finger is used.

Note here that Gold Finger can be used on Animals and Machines when they are on Upgraders.  Originally one did not need any ingredients to use the tech in combination with Gadgets that gave rare products.  Now, however, the developers are limiting the products that do not require actual ingredients.

Among the rare products that require ingredients to produce now are:

Red Eggs
Pumpkin Tomato Burgers

This is the simplest and most direct use of the Research Laboratory.  There are other Techs, both Active and Passive that will be unlocked as you earn Lab Points, including the ability to have your Farmium recharge, but essentially if you complete the Daily Quest Path to open Treasure Chests, you will earn 100 Farmium with each Chest that you open and if you use Gold Finger and complete the little requirements at each level to upgrade it to Level 4, you can ignore the Research Laboratory if you prefer or move forward to the point where you can grow rare Crops and Trees.

I hope this step-by-step tutorial has made the Research Laboratory a little less confusing for farmers.

Advanced Options
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Where the Research Laboratory is concerned, you will find that an upgrade will unlock a number of DIFFERENT, sometimes unrelated options.  I am hoping that, in time, this little guide will allow you to study all of your options at any given point to determine which one you wish to pursue first.

The only time that the Research Laboratory is linear is at the very start when the only action you can undertake is 'Flight of the Bumblebee'.  You need to perform this 'Active Tech' again and again until you unlock 'Gold Finger'.  Once this occurs, you will find it beneficial to upgrade Gold Finger as well as the Research Laboratory itself.  This is fairly simple compared to the number of options that will be unlocked when you reach Research Laboratory Level 4.

As previously stated, you have to USE the first option, which is to have Bees gather honey from a beehive again and again before you can unlock any other options.  Note here that only a REGULAR Beehive will be able to be used.  Any of the special Beehives, even if they gather Clover for Honey like the ordinary one, will not be recognised.

The first level is Basic Research.  It uses 50 Farmium each time.  Tap on the Bee to use 50 Farmium to obtain 5 Honey.  The Active Tech is called 'Flight of the Bumblebee'.  You need to use it to reach 120 points to go to Level 2.  You can upgrade your 'Flight of the Bumblebee'  after five uses and 12 Honey, but that will not change the Active Tech.  It only will allow you to collect 7 Honey immediately instead of 5.  I am not certain that it is entirely beneficial to upgrade the actual Flight of the Bumblebee Tech because then you will be forced to have MORE ripe Clover on your Farm each time you wish to use it.  To unlock new options, you need to use Flight of the Bumblebee a certain number of times.  The lower the level of this Tech, the less Clover you will need for each use.  I think it may be better therefore, unless you are a low level farmer who really NEEDS Honey to wait to upgrade the Tech until you have reached Research Laboratory Level 4.

Note that there are some problems with Flight of the Bumblebee if you are one of those farmers who has multiple Beehives on his/her farm.  If you have ripe Clover, your Bees will begin to pollinate it before you use the Tech, so it is best either to store all but one Beehive before you activate this Tech or make certain that the Beehives each have three Honey stacked in them.  Otherwise, the Tech will not have sufficient Clover upon which to act.

A Beehive with three Honey in it can be activated and will produce Honey using the Tech.  I find this Tech a colossal waste of time personally but unfortunately you must use it again and again in the course of upgrading your Research Laboratory.  Perhaps it would have been better NOT to upgrade Flight of the Bumblebee, because the higher the upgrade, the more Clover you are required to have on the field.

One very useful component of the Research Laboratory is the Gold Finger Active Tech... this allows you to produce items without having the necessary ingredients in your Barn...  for example, when you use it on a Buffalo, no Cucumbers are required.  Use it on a Baker and no ingredients are needed... this is why many players use it on the Baker to make Corn Bread.  It is only at Level 5 that you will find that some of the Animals/Machines on which Gold Finger can be used do require ingredients... until then, however, you can use it without having the necessary ingredients in your Barn.

Basic Research, Cropology/Treeology and Lab Storehouse
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There are three different buildings and components of Grandpa's grand scheme.  One is the actual Building where all rare Seeds are stored.  The central building (and menu) is the Research Laboratory.  This is where you see all of the Techs, both Active and Passive, your Basic Research and below that, all of the Crops or Trees you have unlocked through the choice of Cropology or Treeology and performing the requirements for each.

To the right is the Lab Storehouse, where the actual rare Crops as well as other rare items such as Pet Books for the Forge and Pet Equip Scrolls are stored.  This building has a limit to the total number of items that it can contain unless you upgrade it.  I did not pay attention to these upgrade requirements initially, but will try to add them below for players who are embarking upon these options.

The most important of the three is the Research Laboratory.  Note here, however, that your ability to grow a new rare Crop or harvest a new rare Seed is linked to the upgrades you have performed on the Lab Storehouse and one material for this is linked to the Coffee House in that the Lab Storehouse Shelf is only available if you complete Coffee House Orders.

Gold Finger and Upgrade Ingredients
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At each stage of an upgrade of a Tech, you will find requirements.  Many of these are items that can be collected with Gold Finger.  For example, you will need 30 Sandwiches.  Use Gold Finger to collect Corn Bread from the Baker.  If you study the upgrade requirements below, you can coordinate your efforts in order to be able to use Gold Finger for specific requirements.

The upgrade to Level 5 for Gold Finger that will allow you to use it on ANY Machine or Animal requires Watermelon Yogurt.  The Yogurt Machine is an Island Machine and Watermelon Yogurt requires Level 3 Mastery.  If you have this, however, you still need Goat Milk from the Seaside Farm to make any type of Yogurt.  Use Gold Finger to collect your Goat Milk!

My Humble Advice
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From the outset, I made my dislike of the new Research Laboratory quite clear but I have to admit that the Gold Finger Tech is very useful.  For the ordinary farmer who is not that interested in exploring every possible advanced option, I suggest that he/she focus on upgrading the Gold Finger Tech and basically ignoring the rest until this is accomplished.  The ability to make items without having the ingredients is rather nice.

Please note that the entire business of Cropology and Treeology constitutes a very advanced option in the game.  Note as well that you will need to have purchased both the Cow Upgrader and the Cheese Upgrader as well as specific Gadgets that can be used only at specific levels.

Whenever you use an Upgrader, you CANNOT use Batch Production.  You have to collect products manually.  This takes time.  Do not be discouraged if you have not advanced in the Upgraders or the Research Laboratory.  I personally believe that the special Upgrader products will not be required in the usual time-restricted Quests.  They are required only for specific upgrades pertaining to the Research Laboratory.  As I mentioned previously, the best use of the Research Laboratory for lower level players is the Gold Finger Tech.

Finally, there are far too many activities now in Seaside for a low level farmer and even sometimes for high level farmers.  Focus on the ones that give you the best results.   It is difficult sometimes for low level farmers to obtain Decorations that yield Blue Gift Boxes.  You always will receive one if you complete a Cooking Stand Contest.  Purple Decorations both for the Seaside Farm and for the Island are obtained by completing the time-restricted Quests that begin every other Friday.  These are important activities if you are a Level where they can be unlocked.  Recently, the time-restricted Missions have required different Levels as you move forward.  They are divided now into four parts, each of which gives a specific special Reward.  There is a total of 16 parts.  The first two are linked solely to the original Seaside Farm.  The second two require access to the Island usually and higher levels of experience.

The Daily Quest path is another activity that yields good rewards in the form of Farm Aids.  Try to complete as many of these tasks each day as possible.

I think that the game has become rather overwhelming in some cases.  Do not be discouraged.  Ignore options that are too difficult or expensive for you.  As previously indicated, iuse the Research Laboratory for the Gold Finger Tech until you reach a higher level if you are a new farmer or a fairly low level farmer.

I do think it is worthwhile to purchase the Holstein Cow Upgrader and Cheese Master Upgrader and to begin to use them at the earliest opportunity.  One reason for this is that you cannot use Batch Production on any Upgrader.  A low level farmer, however, can use the Upgraders as easily as a high level player and by the time he/she reaches a Level of Upgrader that could produce the rare items required for the advanced Research Laboratory options, that farmer will be in a good position to decide whether or not to invest in the Gadgets that produce them. 

Upgrading Flight of the Bumblebee
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As previously indicated, you can upgrade the techs, but that does not unlock new techs.  It simply makes the existing tech more effective.

Upgrading the Flight of the Bumblebee to Level 2 requires 5 Uses and 12 Honey.  It allows you to collect 7 Honey immediately.

Upgrading to Level 3 requires 20 uses of Flight of the Bumblebee, 30 Honey and 20 Clover.

Upgrading to Level 4 requires 85 uses of Flight of the Bumblebee, 80 Honey and 12 Cheese Salads.

As discussed previously, a low level farmer who needs Honey may find it beneficial to upgrade this Tech at once but a higher level farmer who will perceive Flight of the Bumblebee as nothing more than a stepping stone to other Techs may wish to keep it at Level 1 until he/she reaches Level 4 in the Research Laboratory.  Why be forced to plant endless fields of Clover simply in order to USE this Tech a specific number of times?  Obviously, the game will not advise you in this fashion, however, but will simply praise you for upgrading the Flight of the Bumblebee again and again.

When you have gained 120 points with 'Flight of the Bumblebee', your Laboratory will reach Level 2, unlocking 'Gold Finger'.

Now you can change the Research Topic to use either Flight of the Bumblebee as before or Gold Finger.

At the start using Gold Finger, you can immediately collect 3 products either from a Holstein Cow or from a Cheese Master.

A little mini-quest must be completed before it becomes usable as follows:

Reach Level 13

Produce 10 glasses of Apple Juice
  Skip for 10 RC

Harvest 30 Lavender
  Skip for 15 RC

Grandpa:  You learned a new skill!  Gold Finger can help you save a lot of time!

Reward: 300 Coins, 50 XP

Earning Points to Upgrade the Laboratory
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Each Tech requires a different amount of Farmium and use of each Tech has a different point value in terms of increasing your Level.

Flight of the Bumblebee:  Cost of use is 50 Farmium.  Each use is worth 5 Points
Gold Finger:  Cost of use is 20 Farmium.  Each use is worth 2 Points.  Tree Zapper from the Treeology option costs 100 Farmium and gives you 10 Points.
 
Upgrading Gold Finger
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At Level 1, you can collect 3 products only from a Holstein Cow or a Cheese Master.  Note that this is possible with the Upgrader as well.

It is at Level 2 that more options are unlocked, allowing you to collect 3 Products instantly from the Angora Rabbit, the Dutch Mill and the Chicken Coop as well as the original Holstein Cow and Cheese Master.

To upgrade to Level 2, you need the following:

12 Uses of Gold Finger
15 Apple Milkshakes

To upgrade to Level 3, you need the following:

42 Uses of Gold Finger
12 Lavender Cheese
12 Batter

At Level 3, you can use Goldfinger on the following:  Buffalo, Baker and Limousin Cattle as well as all the Machines and Animals available at the lower levels.

To upgrade to Level 4, you need the following:

142 Uses of Gold Finger
25 Angora Hair
30 Sandwich

Note here that you can use Gold Finger on the Baker to make the Cornbread required as one of the Sandwich Ingredients... very useful here.  The other ingredient is Beef.

You then can use it on Goat, Pig, Burger Machine and Wine Maker as well as all previous Animals and Machines.

To upgrade to Level 5,  you need the following:

20 total Tech Upgrades
  (What this means is that you need a total of 20 Upgrades of ANY Tech.  This obviously will take time.)
30 Sour Cream
40 Meatloaf
80 Watermelon Yogurt

Gold Finger at Level 5::

Immediately collect 3 products from ANY Machines and Animals (NOTE:  Some products require having the ingredient produced first)

Use of Gold Finger requires only 20 Farmium as opposed to the 50 Farmium required to use the initial Flight of the Bumblebee Tech but you gain only 20 points for each use. NOTE THAT THE BEST INCENTIVE FOR UNLOCKING GOLD FINGER IN MY VIEW IS THE FACT THAT YOU DO NOT NEED TO HAVE ANY INGREDIENTS IN THE BARN FOR THE PRODUCT IT PRODUCES UNTIL YOU REACH LEVEL 5.   (Example:  You do not need any Cucumbers when using Gold Finger on a Buffalo to produce Buffalo Milk.)

To take your Research Laboratory from Level 2 to Level 3, you need to earn a total of 300 points.  When you reach Level 2, the top left corner will show that you have achieved 120/300.  Note that you can do nothing without Farmium.

Use of the Level 1 Gold Finger Tech gives you 2 Points towards the total of 300 needed to upgrade the Laboratory to Level 3.

When you have obtaieed 300 Points, you will reach Level 3 and unlock Farmium Recharge.

Farmium Recharge
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This is a Passive Tech.  This allows your Farmium to recharge.  A Passive Tech automatically operates.  You do not need to 'set' it in motion.  There is a ceiling, however, on the amount of Farmium you can obtain through this Tech.   That is the reason for the next Passive Tech of Farmium Container that basically increases the total amount of Farmium you can collect through Farmium Recharge.  Note that this has nothing whatsoever to do with the Farmium you obtain by opening Daily Quest Treasure Chests.  The ceiling on Farmium is linked only to the amount received through the Farmium Recharge Tech.

Farmium now recharges 1 Point every 24 minutes.

Requirements to unlock:

You must have a Level 3 Laboratory.

Reach Level 16
Use 'Flight of the Bumblebee' 10 times
Use Gold Finger 20 times 

Note that you have to complete these requirements AFTER unlocking this Tech.  In other words, you will need to use Flight of the Bumblebee 10 more times and Gold Finger 20 more times. 

When you have completed these requirements, Grandpa will appear to tell you:

Grandpa:  You learned a new skill!  Be careful with the purple Farmium!  With this potion you can bring magic to our farm!

Reward: 300 Coins, 50 XP

Unlike active Techs, Passive Techs do not need to be 'activated' but simply work for you. 

To upgrade to Level 2, you need the following:

1500 Coins
8 Grape Milkshake

At Level 2, Farmium Recharge by 1 point every 12 minutes.  

To upgrade to Level 3, you will need the following:

2500 Coins
8 Kvass
15 Cottage Cheese

At Level 3, Farmium recharges 1 Point every 9 minutes.

To upgrade to Level 4, you need the following:  

10000 Coins
20 Corn Bread
25 Egg Soup

There is no option to skip the Egg Soup requirement using RC but you can pay 1 RC for each Corn Bread you lack if you wish. 

At Level 4, Farmium recharges 1 Point every 7 Minutes.

All of the prior Upgrades can be made with your Research Laboratory at Level 3 but if you wish to upgrade the Farmium Recharge to Level 5, one of the requirements is that you have a Level 4 Research Laboratory.

The other requirements are:

15000 Coins
12 Seafood Flatter
15 Hot Octopus
25 Mayonnaise Facial Masks

Of these, only the Mayonnaise Facial Masks can be skipped by paying 1 RC for each.


 Note that there is a ceiling to the amount of Farmium you can receive through this Recharge Tech which is why there is the Farmium Container Passive Tech. 

To upgrade your Research Laboratory to Level 4, you need a total of 540 Research Points.  Obtain these by usie of Active Techs. 

Level 4 Laboratory
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This is a very important achievement.  When you reach Level 4, you unlock the following:

Farmium Container (Passive Tech)

Cropology (Active Tech)
Treeology (Active Tech)

The Farmium Container, being a Passive Tech operates automatically, but you have to make a choice between Cropology and Treeology.  Your choice is NOT permanent and you can switch between them.  

Details about Cropology and Treeology:

Cropology:  Studying Cropology gives you a technology that allows you to plant crops at lower costs so you can make a bigger profit on crop-related products.  

As you progress in Cropology, you will be able to collect Rare Crop Seeds to plant special crops unique to your specialty.  You can also make exclusive dishes using those fancy new crops.

Treeology:  Studying Treeology gives you the unique ability to zap trees for extra fruit and coins, while clearing the trees for space on your farm.

As you progress in Treeology, you will be able to collect Rare Tree Seeds to plant sepcial fruits unique to your specialty.  You can also make exclusive dishes using those fancy new fruits!

At Level 4, you will gain access to the two small buildings on either side of the Research Laboratory.  These are the Seed Bank and the Storehouse.

The Seedhouse shows the total of Liquid Fertiliser that you have as well as the number of each type of rare Seed that you possess.  When you first gain access, you will have none.

Lab Storehouse
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Initially, your Storehouse will have a total of 50 slots.  This may appear to be more than enough initially but unfortunately, your Lab Storehouse is the place for many diverse items.

For example, all of the Red and Yellow Pet Equip Scrolls are housed there.  The Pet Books used to forge equipment need to be stored there as well.  All of the Cropology Crops or Treeology Fruits that you harvest go to this Storehouse and finally, any dishes made in the Stove House from these rare ingredients must be stored in the Lab Storehouse.  Ultimately, you need the upgrades.

Level 2
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To upgrade to Level 2, you will need the following:

20 Lab Storehouse Glass Pane
  Request from Buddy or pay 1 RC for each

1 Lab Storehouse Shelf
  Obtain as Reward for completing Coffee House Orders

Level 2 has 60 slots

Level 3
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To upgrade to Level 3, you will need:

30 Lab Storehouse Glass Panes
  Request or pay 1 RC for each

1 Lab Storehouse Shelf

Note that the Level 3 upgrade is one of the requirements in an upgrade to the actual Molecular Gastronomy Tech.

Level 4
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To upgrade to Level 4, you will need:

50 Lab Storehouse Glass Panes
  Request or pay 1 RC each

1 Lab Storehouse Shelf

15 Nails

50 Nuts

Level 4 has a total of 90 slots

Level 5
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To upgrade to Level 5, you will need:

20 Lab Storehouse Windows
1 Lab Storehouse Shelf
5 Wrenches
5 Tempered Glass

Increases slots to 100

Level 6
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To upgrade to Level 6, you will need:

50 Lab Storehouse Windows (1 RC each or request from Buddies)
5 Screwdrivers (Craft or pay 1 RC for each)
2 Lab Storehouse Shelf (Rewards from Coffee House)
10 Tempered Glass (Craft or pay 513 TC each)

Increases slots to 120

Level 7
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70 Lab Storehouse Windows (1 RC each or request from Buddies)
4 Large Lab Storehouse (1 RC each)
30 Four-Leaf Clover (no option to skip)
6 Cubic Apples (no option to skip)

Increases slots to 140

Level 8
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The final upgrade currently increases slots to 160.

Level 9
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To increase to Level 9, you will need:

150 Lab Storehouse Windows
12 Large Lab Storehouse Shelf (Shelves)
30 Pumpkin Tomatoes
6 Rambutan

There is no option to pay instead of obtaining the required Pumpkin Tomatoes and Rambutan

This increases your storage to 180 slots

To increase to Level 10, you will need:

200 Lab Storehouse Windows
30 Hainan Pepper
6 Diamond Lemons
16 Large Lab Storehouse Shelf (Shelves)  (1 RC each)

This increases number of slots to 200.

Level 11
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To increase to Level 11:

250 Lab Storehouse Windows
20 Large Lab Storehouse Shelf
30 Fire Beans
6 Donut Peach

Level 12
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300 Lab Storehouse Windows
24 Large Lab Storehouse Shelf
30 Morchella Mushrooms
6 Nashipeer

Cropology or Treeology?
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Essentially, you need to go through both of these options ultimately.  What is significant about both is the ability to grow new items.   The recipes for these are linked to the Stove House rather than the Kitchen.  Choose whichever suits your current farm.  Cropology requires space for Crops.  Treeology requires Trees but you can zap these... On Harvest Moon FDC, because I have little free space, I chose Treeology initially.  

On Rosewood, I chose Cropology merely in order to be able to fill in the gaps in this guide.  

What reall occurs in either specialisation in the beginning is what I would consider busy work, fairly unimportant results in the form of earning or saving Coins either with the harvest of Crops or Trees.  What you are doing, should you choose either one and pursue it, is slowly earning Points and Uses to attain the upgrade that will allow you finally to plant a rare Tree or Crop.

Treeology allows faster progress in the sense that each use of the first Active Tech, the Tree Zapper, gives you 10 Lab Points but costs 100 Farmium... less busy work, but fewer results... nonetheless, what is the real value of a couple of Apples and a few Coins, which is what you will receive for each use of Tree Zapper?  In Cropology, you use only 10 Farmium but gain only 1 Lab Point for each Plot that you prime with Frugal Powder.  More busy work than the first Treeology Tech and the results are a slightly lower costs for the seeds.  In other words, no more significant a result...

As previously stated, your goal here, whether you pursue Treeology or Cropology would be to advance to the point where you can unlock the Techs that allow you to plant and harvest RARE Seeds or Trees.  

There is no rush here, however.  I do not believe that these Rare Seeds and Trees will be required at all by the basic Farmer in time-restricted Quests.  These options are for farmers who are looking for MORE options in the game, and who have exhausted all the other options, such as earning the Rewards of the 5 Special Sheep on the Daily Order Board and obtaining all possible Decorations and so on.

Rare Crops and Trees
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To unlock ALL the Rare Crops or Seeds that are available, you need a Level 9 Research Laboratory.  

The list of rare Trees are:

Laboratory Level 5: Cubic Apple Fruits, obtained by zapping Apple Trees
Laboratory Level 6: Recipe that uses Cubic Apples
Laboratory Level 7: Surinam Cherries, obtained by zapping Cherry Trees
Laboratory Level 8: Rambutan, obtained by zapping Lychee Trees
Laboratory Level 9: Diamond Lemons, obtained by zapping Lemon Trees

The list of rare Crops are:

Level 5: Four-Leaf Clovers
Level 6: New Recipe in Stove House
Level 7: Glass-Gem Corn
Level 8: Pumpkin Tomato Seeds
Level 9: Hainan Pepper Seeds
Level 10: Fire Bean Seeds
Level 11: Morchella Mushroom Seeds
Level 12: Heart Watermelon Seeds

As previously indicated, this is a very advanced option in Seaside, and basically NOT necessary although you will find that the rare Crops and Tree Fruits are needed for Guest Orders now as well as some Coffee House Orders.  You can purchase them from the E-Mart, however, if you do not have them yourself.    Upgrading your Research to be able to grow all possible rare Crops and Trees may be of interest to farmers who have accomplished everything else in the game.


Treeology:
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When you first tap on Choose, Grandpa will ask:  Are you sure you would like to research Treeology?  Think carefully!  You will have only 1 free chance to change your research topic after this decision.

Your New Specialisation: Treeology

There are many Techs associated with Treeology but only one will be available at the start.  Tap on the Tech in the Tray to activate it.

If you choose Treeology, you now will see three different Active Techs in your Tray:  Flight of the Bumblebee, Gold Finger and the Zap Tech.  The Zap Tech gives you 10 Tech Points and costs 100 Farmium to use, making it the most expensive Tech to date.  Note that the Zapper only can be used on a Coin Tree and that the Tree must be ripe before it can be used.

If you use it on a Lemon Tree, you will receive 3 Lemons and 1050 Coins.
If you use it on an Apple Tree, you will receive 3 Apples and 150 Coins.

Hold down the Zapper until it charges and zaps the ripe Tree.  The fruit will bounce out of the Tree and it then will disappear. 

Tree Zapper: Active Tech
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Level 1:  Zap a ripe tree to receive 2 extra fruits and coins (100$ of the tree's buying price)

Level 2:  Zap a ripe tree to receive 2 extra fruits and coins (120% of the tree's buying price) 
  Requirements:  6 Tree Zapper Uses, 50 Apples

The Techs that are linked to the Treeology option are:

Cubic Apple Tree: Passive Tech.   Recieve 1 Cubic Apple Tree Seed when zapping an Apple Tree
  Requirements:  Level 5 Laboratory and unlocking Tree Zapper 

Molecular Gastronomy (Tree Variant):  Passive Tech.  Now you can cooking the following Dishes in the Stove House: Cubic Apple Tart
  Requirements:  Level 6 Research Laboratory and unlocking Cubic Apple Tree

Surinam Cherry Tree:  Passive Tech.  Receive 1 Surinam Cherry Tree Seed when zapping a Cherry Tree
  Requirements:  Level 7 Research Laboratory, Unlocking Molecular Gastronomy

Rambutan Tree:  Passive Tech.  Receive 1 Rambutan Tree Seed when zapping a Lychee Tree
  Requirements:  Level 8 Research Laboratory, Unlocking Surinam Cherry Tree

Stove House Recipes that are linked to the Treeology Option include the following:  Cubic Apple Tart, Exotic Cherry Cake, Fruity Layer Cake, Luxury Lemon Roll, Fruity Cherry Cake

When you reach Level 5, you will unlock a new option in Treeology in the form of the Cubic Apple Tree, a Passive Tech.

Its description:  Receive 1 Cubic Apple Tree Seeds when zapping an Apple Tree.  To actually obtain this Tech, you must complete a group of 3 requirements as follows:

Reach Level 21
Expand your Farm to 17 x 17
Buy 8 Apple Trees
  Skip for 32 RC

It is only the third task probably that can be skipped.  As every one who has discussed the Research Lab in our group so far had met the other two requirements long ago, however, one still needs actual confirmation that the Level and Expansion Requirements cannot be skipped in any circumstances.

Note that you simply must BUY a total of 8 Apple Trees to meet the requirement.  You need not use the Zapper on them or even harvest them.  Simply sell them if you wish and complete the little Quest.

Cubic Apple Tree: Completed!

Grandpa:  You learned a new skill!  I'll give you some seeds and liquid fertiliser as a reard.  Try to plant a rare seed!

Rewards:  500 Coins, 75 XP, 5 Cubic Apple Seeds, 30 Liquid Fertiliser

Go now to your Research Laboratory and access the little building to the left, which is the Seed House.  You will see 5 Cubic Apple Seeds listed with the option to 'Plant'.  Each has a larger footprint than an ordinary plot.  You can use a Super Watering Can or regular Watering Can on the seedling, and you then have the option to use your Liquid Fertiliser.  It should have a message of: Cubic Apple 0/2.  I used 2 of the Liquid Fertiliser and then was given another option to use a Super Watering Can which I did.  This gave me the chance to use Liquid Fertiliser again.  At this point, the Tree assumed a Cubic shape and the time it would take to grow was given as almost one minute.  When the minute expired, I was able to use two Liquid Fertilisers on it again.  (At this point, it had flowers on it.  I used these and then had the option either to wait a minute again or use a Super Watering Can on the tree.  It now had green apples on it.  I used the Super Watering Can and then two more Liquid Fertilisers.  I now was given the option of using a total of 5 Liquid Fertilisers which I did.  Another Super Watering Can, 1 Liquid Fertiliser and a Cubic Apple was harvested.  

Go to the little building to the right of the Research Lab to find the harvested Cubic Apple.

The description of the Cubic Apple Seed:  6 minutes.  Needs 6 growth stages to mature.  5 Seeds makes 1 Cubic Apple.

This is obviously a slow and expensive business if you need 5 Seeds to grow one Tree... for each time that the Zapper is used, you should obtain 1 Seed now as well as the usual Coins and Apples BUT remember that you need 100 Farmium for one use of the Zapper! 

The next logical step would be to upgrade the Cubic Apple Passive Tech to Level 2 so that each time the Zapper is used on an Apple Tree, you could receive 2 Cubic Apple Seeds instead of one.  Unfortunately, the requirements are 18 Cubic Apple Seeds and 5 Cubic Apples with no option to skip by using RC.

Cropology:
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Cropology:  Studying Cropology gives you a technology that allows you to plant crops at lower costs so you can make a bigger profit on crop-related products.  The real purpose, however, is to be able to grow special Crops.  These must be unlocked through Molecular Gastronomy requirements.  The rare Crops feature in special Stove House Recipes unlocked through Molecular Gastronomy as well as rare products that are made on Upgraders only if you have specific Gadgets for them.

As you progress in Cropology, you will be able to collect Rare Crop Seeds to plant special crops unique to your specialty.  You can also make exclusive dishes using those fancy new crops.

At Level 4, you unlock Frugal Powder, an Active Tech. 


Frugal Powder at Level 1 allows the following:  Prime land plots for more efficient farming.  Reduce planting cost by 20%.

Each use of Frugal Powder requires 10 Farmium and gives you 1 Lab Point.

To upgrade Frugal Powder to Level 2, you will need:

30 Uses of  Frugal Powder
100 Clover

At Level 2, Prime land plots for more efficient farming.  Reduce planting cost by 30%.


At Level 5 in Cropology, you will unlock the Four-Leaf Clover Tech.


The Four-Leaf Clover Tech is a Passive Tech.  The requirements are:

Reach Level 21
Expand your farm to 17 x 17
Plant 120 Clovers
  Skip for 30 RC

With this Tech, you have a 10% chance of receiving Four-Leaf Clover Seeds when harvesting Powdered Clover.

If you choose Cropology, you will unlock the Frugal Powder Active Tech.  To use it, initially, you will need to drag the Powder over plots to save on planting Crops.

The following are the Techs that are associated with Cropology:

Four-leaf Clover:  This is an Active Tech.
  Have a 10% chance to receive Four-leaf Clover Seeds when harvesting powdered Clover.

  Requirements:  A Level 5 Laboratory and having unlocked Frugal Powder Active Tech.

Molecular Grastronomy Crop Variant:  This ia a Passive Tech
  Now you can cook the following in the Stove House.

  Requirements:  A Level 6 Laboratory and having unlocked the Four-Leaf Clover Tach first.

Glass Gem Corn:  This is a Passive Tech.
  Have a 10% chance to receive Glass Gem Corn Seeds when harvesting Powdered Corn.

  Requirements:  A Level 7 Laboratory and having unlocked the Molecular Gastronomy Tech first.

Pumpkin Tomato:  This is a Pssaive Tech.
  Have a 10% Chance to receive Pumpkin Tomato Seeds when harvesting powdered Tomatoes.

  Requirements:  A Level 8 Laboratory and having unlocked Glass Gem Corn first.

Hainan Pepper:  This is a Passive Tech.
  Have a 10% chance to receive Hainan Pepper Seeds when harvesting powdered Red Bell Peppers.

  Requirements:  A Level 9 Laboratory and having unlocked Pumpkin Tomato first.

A Level 4 Research Laboratory
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At the same time that you unlock the Active Techs of Cropology and Treeology, you will unlock the Passive Farmium Container Tech.


Farmium Containers
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This is a Passive Tech.
  Increase your Maximum Farmium to 140.  Requires a Level 4 Laboratory.  You must have unlocked Farmium Recharge first.

Requirements:

Be at Level 19
Use Flight of the Bumblebee 30 times
Use Gold Finger 50 Times  

Note here that the count begins anew.  Past uses of Flight of the Bumblebee and Gold Finger count for nothing now.  I personally find the 'Flight of the Bumblebee' Tech a nuisance.  To be obliged to use it 30 more times is a heavy burden.

Level 2 Farmium Container:  Increase your maximum Farmium to 180.

Requirements:

1500 Coins
8 Oat Milkshakes

Level 3 Farmium Container:  Increase your maximum Farmium to 220.
  Level 3 Requiremends:
  3500 Coins, 8 Light Muffines, 15 Smoked Yellow Croakers

Upgrade Farmium Containers from Level 4 to Level 5:

  Requirements: 15000 Coins
  25 Thai Green Curry
  15 Crab Meat Yi Mein
  25 Banana Facial Masks


Molecular Gastronomy
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This is a Passive Tech.  There is both a Crop Variant and a Tree Variant.  Upgrading allows you to 'learn' new Stove House Recipes.

Upgrading to Level 1:

Reach Level 25
Cook 5 Dishes in the Stove House
Upgrade your Lab Storehouse to Level 3.

(The Requirements for doing so are to use 30 Lab Storehouse Glass and 1 Lab Storehouse Shelf.  The latter is a reward for having a specific total of the large 'Smileys' in the Coffee House.)

This gives you the Recipe for Lucky Jello.

Upgrading to the 2nd Level requires:

10000 Coins
1 Grandpa's Pen
1 Grandpa's Ink
1 Grandpa's Notepad

This gives you the Recipe for Colourful Frittatas.

Upgrading to the 3rd level requires:

10000 Coins
1 Grandpa's Pen
1 Grandpa's Ink
1 Grandpa's Notepad

Tbis gives you the Stuffed Scary Tomatoes Recipe.



Upgrading your Research Laboratory to Level 5:
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To upgrade your Research Laboratory to Level 5, you will need a total of 960 Tech Points.  You earn these only by using Active Techs.  The Passive Techs do not give you any Points.



Helping Your Buddies
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Even if you have not obtained much experience in the Research Laboratory, you may be able to help your Buddies with Treeology and Cropology.  If you see an icon hovering over a planter for a Tree or a rare Seed, tap on it to use it.  At Levels 0 and 1, you can use one Liquid Fertiliser.   At Level 2 or 3 with a Buddy, you can use two of these special farm aids.  None of your own Liquid Fertilisers will be used.


Upgrading Cropology from Level 3 to Level 4:
(Reduces Planting costs from 40% to 50%)

Requirements:   
100 Low Fat Milk
150 Tomatoes
Use Frugal Powder 340 times

 Low Fat Milk is made using the Low Fat Gadget purchased in the Blue Mystron Shop for 100 Blue Mystrons.  To use it, you have to have a Level 3 Cow Upgrader. 

Frugal Powder Upgrades:
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Frugal Powder: Active Tech
  Prime land plots for more efficiant farming.  Reduce planting costs by 20%

Frugal Powder, Level 2:
  Prime land plots for more efficient farming.  Reduce planting costs by 30%

  Use Frugal Powder 30 times
  100 Clover


Level 3 Upgrade Requirements:
  Use Frugal Powder 90 times
  120 Corn
  75 Cheddar Cheese 

Level 4 Upgrade Requirements:

Use Frugal Powder 340 times
150 Tomatoes
100 Low Fat Milk

Frugal Powder Upgrade:   (Level 5 upgrade)

Requirements:
Use Frugal Powder 840 times
120 Red Bell Peppers
120 Milk Powder
150 Low Fat Cheese

Four Leaf Clover
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Upgrade to Level 2:
20% Chance

18 Four Leaf Clover Seeds
20 Four Leaf Clovers

Upgrade to Level 3:
30% Chance

66 Four Leaf Clover Seeds
50 Four-Leaf Clovers
10 Macaroni and Cheese

Upgrade to Level 4
40% chance

174 Four Leaf Clover Seeds
80 Four Leaf Clovers
20 French Fries (Blue Star)
12 Lucky Jello

Upgrade to Level 5:
50% chance

366 Four Leaf Clover Seeds
150 Four Leaf Clovers
25 Lucky Jello
10 ?

Glass Gem Corn:
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  This is a Passive Tech. 10% Chance of receiving Glass Gem Corn Seeds when harvesting Powdered Corn

Mini-Quest requires the following:

Reach Level 28
Expand your farm to 19 x 19
Plant 180 Corn
  Skip for 45 RC

To upgrade Glass Gem Corn to Level 2:
  20% Chance of receiving Glass Gem Corn Seeds when harvesting Powdered Corn

18 Glass Gem Corn Seed
10 Glass Gem Corn

To increase Glass Gem to Level 3:
  30% Chance of receiving Glass Gem Corn Seeds

66 Glass Gem Seeds
25 Glass Gem Corn
10 Nachos

To increase Glass Gem Corn to Level 4:
  40% chance of receiving Glass Gem Corn Seeds

174 Glass Gem Corn Seeds
40 Glass Gem Corn
20 Vanilla Puddings
10 Colourful Frittatas



Pumpkin Tomato

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This is a Passive Tech



To unlock:



Reach Level 32

Expand your Farm to 20 x 20
Plant 240 Tomatoes

To increase to Level 2:
20% chance

18 Pumpkin Tomato Seeds
20 Pumpkin Tomatoes

To increase to Level 3:
30% chance of receiving Pumpkin Tomato Seeds when harvesting Powdered Tomato

Upgrade Requirements:

66 Pumpkin Tomato Seeds (cumulative from previous upgrade)
50 Pumpkin Tomatoes
Craft 10 Champagne Punch (Stove House Recipe)

Hainan Pepper
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This is a Passive Tech
  Have a 10% chance of receiving Hainan Pepper Seeds when harvesting powdered Red Bell Peppers

Mini Quest has the following requirements:

Reach Level 35
Expand your Farm to 22 x 22
Plant 400 Red Bell Peppers

Hainan Pepper Upgrade to Level 2
  Have a 20% chance of receiving Hainan Pepper Seeds when harvesting powdered Red Bell Peppers

Have 18 Hainan Pepper Seeds
Have 10 Hainan Peppers

To upgrade to Level 2:

To upgrade to Level 3:

Fire Bean
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Have a Level 10 Lab and unlock Hainan Pepper first

To increase to level 2:
20% chance

18 Fire Bean Seeds
20 Fire Beans

To increase to Level 3:
30% chance

66 Fire Bean Seeds
50 Fire Beans
80 Blue Cheese

Morchella Mushroom
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Have a Level 11 Lab and unlock Fire Pepper first

Heart Watermelon
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Have a Level 12 Lab and unlock Morchella Mushroom first

Requirements for unlocking Crop:

Reach Level 44
Expand your Farm to 26 x 26
Plant 850 Watermelons

Reward:  1000 Coins, 175 XP, 5 Heart Watermelon Seeds, 30 Liquid Fertiliser

Upgrading Four-Leaf Clover:
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Upgrading Four-Leaf Clover from Level 2 to Level 3:

Requirements:
66 Four-Leaf Clover Seeds
50 Four-Leaf Clovers
10 Macaroni and Cheese 


More Cropology Techs
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Hainan Pepper
  This is a Passive Tech.
  Have a 10% chance to receive Hainan Pepper Seeds when harvested powdered Red Bell Peppers.

Mini Quest requirements:
Reach Level 35,
Expand your Farm to 22 x 22
Plant 400 Red Bell Peppers
Treeology purpose
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The primary purpose of Treeology is to be able to create rare tree fruits for use in the Stove House and Coffee House.  In fact, all the new options in the form of the Upgraders, the Research Laboratory, Coffee House and Stove House are linked.  Do you actually NEED to participate in them?  That remains to be seen.  As it stands, however, participation in one leads to requirements that promote participation in all of them.

For Treeology the first step is a tree zapper. You can zap a ripe coin purchase tree and get 2 extra fruits and coins (100% of the tree's buying price). To upgrade to getting 120% of the tree's buying price you need to use the tree zapper 6 times and 50 apples. It costs 100 farmium to zap a tree. For the next tech you need level 5 and you receive 1 cubic apple tree seed when zapping an apple tree. I think once you start getting these seeds they go into a seed bank where you need liquid fertilizer (which I think we will get from coffee house) to grow them. Other trees you will need to obtain rare tree seeds, apart from Apple, are cherry, lychee, and lemon.

Mini-Quest for unlocking Cubic Apple:

Reach Level 21
Expand your Farm to 17 by 17 
Buy 8 Apple Trees
  Skip for 32 RC

You can buy and place an Apple Tree, sell it and repeat until you reach the required total.

This unlocks Cubic Apples Level 1.  Now you can collect one Cubic Apple Seed for every Apple Tree that you 'zap'.

When you complete this little Quest, Grandpa will appear with a banner and tell you:  You learned a new skill.  I'll give you some seeds and liquid fertiliser as a reward.  Try to plant a rare seed!'

Rewards are: 500 Coins, 75 XP, 5 Cubic Apple Seeds, 30 Liquid Fertiliser 

To upgrade Cubic Apples to Level 2, you need to collect 18 Cubic Apple Seeds and 5 Cubic Apples.  You then can harvest 2 Cubic Apple Seeds each time you 'zap' an Apple Tree.

Plant Cubic Apple as a Tree and use liquid fertiliser on it to grow it through 6 stages and then harvest a cube Apple.

New types of Tree Fruits and their Parent Trees
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Laboratory Level 5: Cubic Apple Fruits, obtained by zapping Apple Trees
Laboratory Level 6: Recipe that uses Cubic Apples
Laboratory Level 7: Surinam Cherries, obtained by zapping Cherry Trees
Laboratory Level 8: Rambutan, obtained by zapping Lychee Trees
Laboratory Level 9: Diamond Lemons, obtained by zapping Lemon Trees

There will be new recipes for the Stove House unlocked at Level 6 but meantime they are being asked for in the coffee shop. Beware! Don't give away those apples! If you ever want to grow more than 1 per day you will need 5 to level up the cubic apple skill.

Farmium Requirements:  A total of 500 Farmium must be used to produce 1 Cubic Apple Tree.  A total of 2500 Farmium is required to upgrade this skill.  A total of 100 Farmium is needed to produce 1 Four-Leaf Clover.  You will need a total of 3000 Farmium to upgrade this Skill.

Level 6
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Helping Your Buddies
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Even if you have not obtained much experience in the Research Laboratory, you may be able to help your Buddies with Treeology and Cropology.  If you see an icon hovering over a planter for a Tree or a rare Seed, tap on it to use it.  At Level 2 with a Buddy, you can use two of these special farm aids.


The Tree appears to store all fertilisations so you can claim them over various stages of growth.

Advanced Cropology Options
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Four Leaf Clover, Level 5
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Level 5 Upgrade also includes 20 upgrade times in a Lab (cumulative count of ALL tech upgrades).

Level 5 Flight of the Bumble Bee requires 235 flights (uses), 200 Honey, 40 Mooncake Dough, 25 Sakura Tea

Cropology to Upgrade to Level 3 Four-Leaf Clover Tech requires the following:

66 Four-Leaf Clover Seeds, 50 Four-Leaf Clovers, 10 Macaroni and Cheese (Stove House Recipe).  Upgrade gives you a 30% chance of obraining Four-Leaf Clover Seed from a plot fertilised with Farmium


To upgrade Four-Leaf Clover (Passive Tech), with a 50% chance of obtaining Four-Leaf Clover Seeds whenever you harvest Clover (enhanced with Liquid Fertiliser), you need:
366 Four Leaf Clover Seeds, 150 Four-Leaf Clovers, 25 Lucky Jello (Stove House Recipe) and 10 non-disclosed items (coming soon), so impossible to perform this upgrade presently.

Four Leaf Clover
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Upgrade to Level 2:
20% Chance
18 Four Leaf Clover Seeds
20 Four Leaf Clovers


Upgrade to Level 3:

30% Chance
66 Four Leaf Clover Seeds
50 Four-Leaf Clovers
10 Macaroni and Cheese

Upgrade to Level 4
40% chance

174 Four Leaf Clover Seeds
80 Four Leaf Clovers
20 French Fries (Blue Star)
12 Lucky Jello

Upgrade to Level 5:
50% chance
366 Four Leaf Clover Seeds
150 Four Leaf Clovers
25 Lucky Jello
10 ?

Glass Gem Corn:
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  This is a Passive Tech. 10% Chance of receiving Glass Gem Corn Seeds when harvesting Powdered Corn

Mini-Quest requires the following:

Reach Level 28
  Expand your farm to 19 x 19
Plant 180 Corn
  Skip for 45 RC

To upgrade Glass Gem Corn to Level 2:
  20% Chance of receiving Glass Gem Corn Seeds when harvesting Powdered Corn

18 Glass Gem Corn Seed
10 Glass Gem Corn

To increase Glass Gem to Level 3:
  30% Chance of receiving Glass Gem Corn Seeds

66 Glass Gem Seeds
25 Glass Gem Corn
10 Nachos

To increase Glass Gem Corn to Level 4:
  40% chance of receiving Glass Gem Corn Seeds

174 Glass Gem Corn Seeds
40 Glass Gem Corn
20 Vanilla Puddings
10 Colourful Frittatas

Pumpkin Tomato
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This is a Passive Tech

To unlock:

Reach Level 32
Expand your Farm to 20 x 20
Plant 240 Tomatoes

To increase to Level 2:
20% chance

18 Pumpkin Tomato Seeds
20 Pumpkin Tomatoes

To increase to Level 3:
30% chance of receiving Pumpkin Tomato Seeds when harvesting Powdered Tomato

Upgrade Requirements:
66 Pumpkin Tomato Seeds (cumulative from previous upgrade)
50 Pumpkin Tomatoes
Craft 10 Champagne Punch (Stove House Recipe)


Hainan Pepper
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This is a Passive Tech
  Have a 10% chance of receiving Hainan Pepper Seeds when harvesting powdered Red Bell Peppers

Mini Quest has the following requirements:

Reach Level 35
Expand your Farm to 22 x 22
Plant 400 Red Bell Peppers


Hainan Pepper Upgrade to Level 2
  Have a 20% chance of receiving Hainan Pepper Seeds when harvesting powdered Red Bell Peppers

Have 18 Hainan Pepper Seeds
Have 10 Hainan Peppers

To upgrade to Level 3:



Fire Bean
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Have a Level 10 Lab and unlock Hainan Pepper first

To increase to level 2:
20% chance
18 Fire Bean Seeds
20 Fire Beans

To increase to Level 3:
30% chance
66 Fire Bean Seeds
50 Fire Beans
80 Blue Cheese

Morchella Mushroom
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Have a Level 11 Lab and unlock Fire Pepper first

Heart Watermelon

Have a Level 12 Lab and unlock Morchella Mushroom first


Molecular Gastronomy
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The requirements for unlocking Molecular Gastronomy, Level 1 are as follows:

Reach Level 25
Cook 5 dishes in the Stove House
Upgrade your Lab Storehouse to Level 3.

When you upgrade to Level 3 and complete the other two requirements, you will learn your first Stove House Recipe.  In Cropology, this is the Lucky Jello Recipe.

Secret Recipe:

Grandpa:  You learned a new skill!  Try it!  And don't forget to share with me!

Reward: 500 Coins, 75 XP

Molecular Gastronomy, Level 2 requirements:

10000 Coins
1 Grandpa's Pen
  Cost: 80 Blue Mystrons
1 Grandpa's Ink
  Cost: 600 Green Mystrons
1 Grandpa's Notepad
  Cost: 200 Red Mystrons

At Level 2, you learn the Colourful Frittatas Recipe

Molecular Gastonomy, Level 3 requirements:

10000 Coins
1 Grandpa's Pen
1 Grandpa's Ink
1 Grandpa's Notepad

Treeology
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Cubic Apple Tech:

Reach Level 21
Expand your farm to 17 x 17
Buy 8 Apple Trees

Grandpa:  You learned a new skill.  I'll give you some seeds and liquid fertiliser as a reward.  Try to plant a rare seed!

Reward: 500 Coins, 75 XP, 5 Cubic Apple Seeds, 30 Liquid Fertiliser

To upgrade to Level 2:

18 Cubic Apple Seeds
5 Cubic Apples

Molecular Gastronomy: Tree Variant
  Requires: Level 6 Research Lab (1380 Points), having unlocked Cubic Apple

Unlocking this will allow you to cook Cubic Apple Tart

To upgrade to Level 3:

Note from Kaye:

for Level 5 Diamond Lemon: 10 Lemon Sugar; for Level 5 Donut Peach, 10 Cinnamon Jam; for Level 5 Sand Pear, 10 Fruit Platter; and for Level 5 Crystal Olive 10 Love Fruit Jam.

MAXIMUM LAB STOREHOUSE
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The maximum number of slots at present is 160.  (Note in October 2018: no longer the case...)

25 March 2016

Farm Quiz Contest and Lightbulbs Collections Mission




 (Photo shows Quiz Rabbit as well as Easter Picnic Base loaded with animated Decorations)

On Good Friday, a new time-restricted Quest has been released... not connected, alas with an Easter Theme but there you are.  The Quest as usual has two separate components.  One is a Collections Mission with a Collectable Reward in the form of a Basil Pot, which means it cannot be found in the Market at this point in time.  The second component is a traditional Quest sequence.  You will need an Apricot Tree for the Collections Mission.  You will need other premium Trees, the Cashew Tree and the Elderberry Tree,  for a Task and Recipe as well each.

Dear Farmers,  A brief appeal:  If you find this site helpful at all, please consider voting for Harvest Moon FDC in the Farm Beauty Contest.  My icon is my Facebook avatar, which is a hawk sitting in a tree against a blue sky.  There is another Harvest Moon farm, not to be confused with MINE, having nothing whatsoever to do with me.  My other farm is Rosewood.  If you need new neighbours, consider joining our Facebook Group: Family Farm Seaside Freyashawk Group.  All our members are active, friendly and helpful!

If this Mission follows the same rules as the last, you will need to be at Level 18 to unlock the first 4 parts and Level 25 to continue past Farm Quiz Contest 4.  A farmer who has been playing less than a fortnight discovered that she could not continue past Farm Quiz Contest 4 until she reached Level 25.  It appears that every time-restricted Mission is different in terms of the Level needed to unlock the parts past Part 4... it depends on the items needed for the tasks I believe.  The second half of the Quest sequence, beginning with Farm Quiz Contest 9 only unlocks at Level 28 evidently!

Note that you will need Yeast for one of the Recipes.  This is the product of a Yeast Barrel, a Collectable that can be purchased in the Market and placed for 3 days only.

You need to be able to place the Basil Pot in Farm Quiz Contest 8 or skip the task for 10 RC.  It probably is best to complete the Collections Mission at that point really instead of spending the RC to skip the task.  The Basil Pot produces a random amount of Basil every three hours.  I received 7 Basil in the first collection.

Ingredients to make in Advence
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Some items that you will need but can make in advance include:

12 Wool Yarn
6 Dried Wakame (Make in Seafood House)
6 Cooked Sea Lettuce (Make in Seafood House)

Do not sell any of the Cooked Dishes that you make in the course of the Quest as you will need them as ingredients later.

Collect Lightbulbs
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Collect 70 Pink Lightbulbs from Pitaya

Collect 50 Green Lightbulbs from Ostrich Feathers

Collect 30 Blue Lightbulbs from Blueberry Jam

Collect 10 Yellow Lightbulbs from Apricot

Reward: Basil Pot

The Basil Pot is a Collectable which means that one cannot find it in the Market at this point, making the Collections Mission obligatory.

Farm Quiz Contest 1
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Darryl:  Ahhh... There are so many farm chores to do these days.  I'm happy when taking care of animals and crops but I need something fun too.  Anyway, let's finish this farm work first!

Harvest 40 Pasture
  Skip for 10 RC

Harvest 6 Apples
  Skip for 6 RC

Feed the Holstein Cow 40 times
  Skip for 10 RC

Reward: 2500 Coins, 160 XP

Darryl:  Yay!  I just harvested so many things!  So happy now!

Farm Quiz Contest 2
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Darryl:  Grandma said I should feed the animals now.  Will you help me?  After feeding our adorable buddies, I will think about exciting activities to entertain me and my friends!

Produce 40 Wheat Flour
  Skip for 10 RC

Collect 20 Honey
  Skip for 5 RC

Prepare 8 Condensed Milk
  Skip for 8 RC
  Each requires 1 Milk and 1 Sugar

Reward: 2500 Coins, 160 XP

Darryl:  Phew!  Now I can relax knowing my buddies are all full!

Farm Quiz 3
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Darryl:  Hmmm.  I think Felicia will give me a good idea for some activities!  After finishing today's work, let's ask her!

Produce 40 Beef
  Skip for 10 RC

Produce 40 Wheat Bread
  Skip for 10 RC

Prepare 8 Milk Cookies
  Skip for 10 RC
  Each requires 1 Condensed Milk and 1 Wheat Flour

Reward: 2500 Coins, 170 XP

Darryl:  She had a lot of ideas!  Thanks to her, I just need to pick one of them!  Yay!

Farm Quiz 4
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Darryl:  Felicia gave me a really fun idea, a Farm Quiz Contest!  All of our family and friends can join the quiz and enjoy this warm spring weather!

Ask Neighbours for 10 Buzzers
  Skip for 10 RC

Produce 40 Bottles of Ketchup
  Skip for 10 RC

Prepare 8 Grilled Flank Steak
  Skip for 8 RC

  Each requires 8 Beef and 2 Ketchup  (This is one of the Recipes in the third Cooking Stand Contest Round as well)

Reward: 2500 Coins, 170 XP

Darryl:  Let's prepare!

Special Reward:  Special Mission Gift Box containing Farm Aids.

Farm Quiz 5
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Darryl:  Why don't we prepare some food and drinks for the contestants?  Let's make some yummy food with farm-fresh ingredients!


Harvest 50 Oat
  Skip for 12 RC


Produce 40 Cheese Burgers

  Skip for 10 RC

Prepare 8 Apple Cider
  Skip for 8 RC

  Each requires 4 Yeast and 3 Apples

Reward:  2500 Coins, 180 XP

Darryl:  I'm excited!  Let's start the quiz right now!

Farm Quiz 6
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Darryl:  The Farm Quiz Contest has started!  Question number one... 'What has to be broken before you can use it?'  (Beats me!  An egg perhaps?)


Collect 50 Duck Eggs

  Skip for 12 RC

Produce 50 bottles of Mayonnaise
  Skip for 12 RC


Prepare 8 Egg Salad
  Skip for 8 RC

  Each requires 2 Eggs and 1 Mayonnaise

Reward: 2500 Coins, 180 XP

Darryl: The answer is 'An Egg!'

(Huzzah!  I was right... Like Bilbo Baggins, I know these old riddles...  If only I could win the Farm Beauty Contest as easily... still losing votes on a daily basis.)

Farm Quiz 7
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Darryl:  Okay!  You got the answer!  Well done!  Let's go to the second round.  'What has a tongue, cannot walk, but gets round a lot?'


Fish 1 time for Old Boot
  Skip for 10 RC

  Use the Boost to guarantee the catch.

Harvest 8 Cashew
s
  Skip for 8 RC

Prepare 8 Beer Snacks
  Skip for 8 RC

  Each requires 1 Soft Dough and 1 Cashew

Reward: 2500 Coins, 190 XP

Darryl:  The answer is...  'A Shoe!'

Farm Quiz 8
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Darryl:  Gooooood job!  Every one is doing great at the quiz!  Here is a third riddle for you.  'Take off my skin and I won't cry, but you will.  What am I?'

(Another old one... but I'll let Darryl tell you!)


Harvest 50 Onions

  Skip for 12 RC

Place Basil Pot from Collection

  Skip for 10 RC

Prepare 8 Cashew Milk Cookie
  Skip for 8 RC

  Each requires 1 Milk Cookie and 2 Cashews

Reward: 2500 Coins, 150 XP

Darryl:  Yes, you're right!  It's 'An Onion!'

Special Reward: Quiz Rabbit Decoration for original Seaside Farm.  The Quiz Rabbit has 4 Charm.

The second half of the Quest sequence will have some tasks that require access to the Island.

Farm Quiz 9
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Darryl:  After three rounds, our friends seem to be thirsty and tired.  They must be nervous about solving the quiz!  Let's prepare some drainks and take a short break!

Produce 12 Cherry Juice
  Skip for 6 RC


Produce 50 Wine

  Skip for 12 RC

Prepare 8 Rose
  Skip for 8 RC

  Each requires 3 Wine and 3 Champagne

Reward: 2500 Coins, 200 XP

Darryl:  Thank you, Farmer!

Farm Quiz 10
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Darryl:  Oh, we're still hungry!  We'd better eat a little something!  Can you help me to prepare some food for my friends?  Our brains need energy for the next round!

Prepare 8 Baked Tilapia

  Skip for 8 RC

  Each requires 1 Tilapia and 3 Wheat Flour

Prepare 8 Sausage Sauce

  Skip for 8 RC

  Each requires 1 Sliced Sausages and 3 Basil
  This is a new Recipe.
  
Prepare 8 Apricot Chutney
  Skip for 8 RC

  Each requires 1 Apricot and 1 White Vinegar

Reward: 2500 Coins, 200 XP

Darryl:  We have enough energy now! Let's go to the next round!

Farm Quiz 11
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Darryl:  Pay attention please.  We're about to start Round 4 now.  The 4th question is:  What flies without wings?

Ask Neighbours for 20 Clocks

  Skip for 20 RC

Harvest 50 Pineapples

  Skip for 12 RC

Prepare 8 Tilapia with Chutney Sauce
  Skip for 8 RC

  Each requires 1 Apricot Chutney and 1 Baked Tilapia

Reward: 2500 Coins, 210 XP

Darryl:  The answer is 'Time'!

Farm Quiz 12
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Darryl:  Final Round:  What has no beginning, end or middle?  Huh, yiu already know the answer?  That's great!

Produce 50 Sugar
  Skip for 12 RC


Transport 50 Wool to Island
  Skip for 12 RC

Prepare 8 Sugary Doughnuts
  Skip for 8 RC
  Each requires 2 Sugar and 2 Wheat Flour

Reward: 2500 Coins, 210 XP

Darryl:  You're right!  The answer is a Doughnut!

Special Reward:  Special Island Mission Gift Box containing Farm Aids

Farm Quiz 13
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Darryl:  Oh my gosh!  I forgot to prepare nice prizes for the contestants!  To celebrate our brainy friends, we should prepare something as a prize!

Harvest 8 Elderberries

  Skip for 8 RC

Prepare 8 Elderberry Pancakes

  Skip for 8 RC

  Each requires 1 Apple Kulfi and 1 Elderberry

Craft 6 Wooden Aroma Bottles
  Skip for 6 RC

  Each requires 2 Wool Yarn and 1 Cedar Wood

Reward: 2500 Coins, 220 XP

Darryl:  You saved me, Farmer!  Thank you again!

Farm Quiz 14
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Darryl:  Guess who's the winner of the 1st Farm Quiz Contest!  Dru drum druuum... It's Grandma!  I'm so proud of her!


Prepare 8 Bologna Sausage

  Skip for 8 RC

  Each requires 1 Meatloaf and 3 Cashews
  Each Meatloaf requires 1 Grilled Flank Steak and 1 Cheese Burger

Fish 8 times with Bone Fish Hook 8 times
  Skip for 8 RC

Prepare 6 Seafood Salad
  Skip for 6 RC

  Each requires 1 Mayonnaise and 1 Wakame Salad
  Each Wakame Salad requires 1 Dried Wakame and 1 Cooked Sea Lettuce

Reward: 2500 Coins, 220 XP

Darryl:  She looks so happy!  Grandma knows everything in the world!  I love her!

Farm Quiz 15
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Darryl:  Now it's reward time!  I prepared a wonderful gift for our winner, Grandma!  It's a necklace and beauty pack that I made for her!  Look at her!  Doesn't it look stunning on her?


Craft 6 Red Cord Necklaces

  Skip for 6 RC

  Each requires 1 Angora Hair, 1 Wool and 2 Red Roses and takes 3 minutes to complete.

 Craft 6 Clay Facial Masks
  Skip for 6 RC

  Each requires 2 Algae Powder, 1 Batter and 1 Distilled Water and takes 5 minutes to complete.


Prepare 6 Royal Salads
  Skip for 6 RC

  Each requires 1 Seafood Salad and 1 Cashew

Reward: 2500 Coins, 230 XP

Darryl:  It's time to wrap up this quiz!

Farm Quiz 16
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Darryl:  I was happy to host the farm quiz show for every one!  Next time, I'll prepare even more fun activities for us all!  Here are flowers for you.  Your fave show host Darryl will be back again - see ya!

Prepare 8 Pizza Dough
nut
  Skip for 8 RC

  This requires 1 Sugary Doughnut and 1 Sausage Sauce

Harvest 20 Camomile
  Skip for 5 RC
  This is an Island Task

Produce 20 Camomile Baskets
  Skiip for 10 RC
   This is an Island Task

Reward: 2500 Coins, 230 XP

Darryl:  Bye!  See you soon!

Special Reward: Colourful Cube Decoration for Island

Gallery Registration
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Register all three items in the Gallery:

Quiz Rabbit: 2 Medals, 10 Green Mystrons

Basil Pot: 3 Medals, 2500 Coins

Colourful Cube: 5 Medals, 30 Green Mystrons

Farm Quiz Collection:  5 Medals, 88 Green Mystrons, 1 RC
  Includes Quiz Rabbit, Colourful Cube and Basil Pot

Gift Code
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This is a fairly new option in Seaside.  Tap on the Settings icon (the blue cog on the right side of your screen) and you will see Gift Code at the bottom of the list of options.  Tap on that and enter the following Code:  25811 39714 48216.  I do not know how long it will be available but it will give you a Watering Can, 5 Chocolate and 3 Power I believe.