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MASS. EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETIN 427 



Table 4. Effect of Chemical Solutions on Rooting of 



Matchless Carnation Cuttings and Control of. Alternaria. 



Cuttings Previously Immersed in a Water Suspension 



OF Spores of Alternaria. 



*Not inoculated. 



Fish Oil, Saponin, Kayso added to improve wetting. 



Methylene blue solutions of 1-1,000 to 1-4,000 were studied. Solutions of 

 1-1,000, 1-2,000 and 1-3,000 were most frequently toxic. The results were often 

 reversed, and in this respect methylene blue appeared like potassium perman- 

 ganate. The immersion of carnation cuttings in a 1-3,000 methylene blue solu- 

 tion did not give satisfactory control of disease. 



Solutions of Orange and Yellow Helione* in concentrations of 1-200 to 1-800 

 were inconsistently toxic. They were toxic at the strongest concentration more 

 frequently than not, but appeared generally not promising. 



Effect on Rooting and Disease Control 



Cuba (28) reported a notable improvement in the rooting of carnation cuttings 

 by immersing them for 5 to 15 minutes in a 1-1,000 solution of potassium per- 

 manganate prior to planting. Disinfection of the cuttings was also claimed for 

 the treatment. In subsequent articles on carnation diseases, this treatment of 

 the cuttings has been endorsed repeatedly (29, 30, 31, 32, 33). The recom- 

 mendation is based on favorable results obtained in laboratory experiments and 

 in commercial propagating houses (Tables 3, 4, 7, 12). 



Carnation cuttings immersed in potassium permanganate solution acquire a 

 darker green color and show a greater growth of roots and foliage during their 

 growing period in the sand than untreated cuttings. Such a response in the 

 propagation of carnation cuttings is very desirable. 



*Standard Agricultural Chemicals, Inc., Hoboken, N. J. 



