ANNUAL REPORT, 1938 79 



cuttings of the variety Belle of Woking rooted before those which were auxin 

 treated, although this last condition may have been caused by other factors. 



With all varieties tested, a high percentage of successful rooting was accomp- 

 lished without application of auxin. 



Delphinium Propagation. (George Graves, Waltham.) The work thus far has 

 been a rechecking under local conditions of European practices and of this in- 

 vestigator's own published reports on the subject. 



This recheck has determined the commercial feasibility of vegetative increase 

 of healthy and worthwhile Delphiniums by four methods of procedure: 



1. Cuttings taken indoors during late winter or very earl}' spring for potted 

 stools carried at a temperature of 50^ F. 



2. Cuttings taken from outdoor plants in late March. 



3. Scantily rooted bases of flowering stems potted and treated as cuttings 

 just after first flowering. 



4. Outdoor division of the stool. 



In general, cuttings are new shoots pulled off with heels while still but a few 

 inches high. Cuttings and poorly rooted divisions are best handled in individual 

 pots in sandy soil or a mixture of half soil and half sand. Fifty degrees Fahrenheit 

 (50° F.) is an ideal temperature for all operations connected with the propagation 

 of Delphiniums from cuttings. 



The use of healthy stock plants, hot water treatment for mites, and protection 

 against cutworms at planting time are all important in the propagating program. 



Beach Plum. (George Graves, Waltham.) Roots of four clones of Beach plum 

 {Primus niaritima), selected for season or quality of fruiting, were sent in from 

 Martha's Vineyard by Mrs. Wilfred O. White, Newton Center, Mass. 



From observation of the behavior of this material, it has been confirmed that 

 individual clones of Beach plum may be propagated in frames or in the open by 

 the simple process of planting segments of sizable roots either with apical end 

 down and basal end at soil surface, or by shallow horizontal planting. 



Also, propagation by cuttings has been found both possible and practical. 

 This method, however, requires more knowledge of the processes of vegetative 

 propagating technique. 



Propagation by grafting or budding would seem to be unnecessary, unsatis- 

 factory, and illogical. 



Study of Hardy Ornamental Plant Material. (Harold S. Tiffany, Waltham.) 

 Each year selection and hybridization are producing types and forms in the plant 

 world distinctly in advance of their predecessors. A study of the trade catalogues 

 of herbaceous perennials reveals a need for the inclusion of many of the newer 

 sorts in place of certain old standard varieties. Much as he may desire to, the 

 nurseryman often finds it difficult or impractical to acquire from the Bureau of 

 Plant Industry, to import from abroad, and to test on his own grounds plants of 

 uncertain value. There had been no organized study of such material in this 

 region previous to the establishment of the plant trials at Waltham. This collec- 

 tion is proving of great value to the commercial plant grower and to the public 

 directly who have convenient access to the plantings. 



The testing of 1551 species and varieties of herbaceous ornamentals has shown 

 that certain ones are definitely unsuited to this climate because of tenderness 

 and that others are unworthy because they possess comparatively little garden 

 value. The factors of (1) hardiness, (2) quality and duration of bloom, (3) com- 

 parative vitality, (4) susceptibility to pests, and (5) propagation methods con- 

 stitute the basis on which garden value has been determined. 



At intervals, the Nurseryculture Bulletin is sent to some 300 nurserymen in 

 this state to acquaint them with the results of these investigations. 



