Propagation of Woody Plants 



By Stuart Dunn and Russell Eggert 



'T'HIS report is on a continuation of the work with sugar maple cuttings 

 u f""""^^"^^^'^ previously (2), and on results with cuttings of apple and 

 hazel-filbert hybrids. Many of the same techniques of gathering and handling 

 the cuttmgs were again used. Since high moisture of the air around the 

 cuttings by constant mist was shown to be important, this was further 

 emphasized with some variations. Use of sawdust as a rooting medium 

 had shown some promise, so further comparison of it with other materials 

 was made. Since no survival of the rooted cuttings had been obtained after 

 exposure to their first winter, considerable attention was given to this 

 phase of the investigation. 



A description of variations from the methods previously developed will 

 be given in the discussion of the results with different treatments. For some 

 of the treatments, the results over a 5-year period, 1954-59 inclusive, are 

 summarized. For others, shorter periods are involved. 



Effect of Kind of Propagating Bed 



There were in all 6 different kinds of propagating beds tested. 



(A) Greenhouse Ground Bed with Whiteivash Shade. This was a large 

 bed 16' by 4' by 2' deep. Shade was provided by a fairly thick coating of 

 whitewash on the greenhouse roof. For tests in two of the seasons, half 

 of this bed was filled with sand, the other half with sawdust. For the rest 

 of the time it was filled entirely with sawdust, except in the last year 

 (1958) vvhen a part of it was filled with perlite. The maple cuttings used 

 to fill this and all other beds were gathered and placed in the beds early 

 in July as described before (2j. Their foliage was kept moist by constant 

 mist, using oil-burner type nozzles (No. 4.00-60PLP ) delivering 4 gallons 

 of water per hour. These gave a very fine mist which was ideal. See 

 Figure 1 for type of bed and distribution of mist. Good drainage of the 

 bed was provided by two lines of tile running its complete length. 



(B) Outdoor Bench ivith Cloth Shade, This was made with boards on 

 bottom and sides, supported above the ground at waist level by 2" x 4" 

 legs. It was made in three sections, each 6' x 3' and about 8" deep. A 

 wooden frame supported a brown nylon netting for shade during two 

 seasons. Later, woven Saran shading cloth was used and this was'^more 

 satisfactory. This bench was supplied with the same rooting media and 

 type of mist as the greenhouse bed. 



(C) Small Outdoor Bed tvith Cloth Shade. This was built of wood sides, 

 directly on the ground. 6' x 3'. with a layer of coarse gravel beneath, and 

 with a canopy of burlap for shade. This provided a low-cost propagating 

 bed. It also had constant mist. 



