22 MASS. EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETIN 449 



The use of the following fungicides similarly applied was followed by poorer 

 rooting or apparent injury in the case of cuttings of these species: Arasan (tetra" 

 methyl thiuram disulfide) with Canada hemlock, heather, and Genista pilosa; 

 Semesan Jr. (1.0% ethyl mercury phosphate) with Canada hemlock, Carolina 

 hemlock and Pachistima Canbyi; Puraturf (6.0% phenyl mercury triethanol 

 ammonium lactate) with Canada hemlock and creeping juniper; 2 percent Cere- 

 san (2.0% ethyl mercurj' chloride) with Carolina hemlock and Pachistima Canbyi; 

 zinc trichlorophenate with red cedar and Pachistima Canbyi; Fermate (ferric 

 dimethyl dithiocarbamate) with heather. 



It should be noted that here and throughout the report on this project better 

 rooting means rooting in larger percentages or in a shorter time or with a larger 

 root system. 



In cooperation with Dr. Malcolm A. McKenzie of this Department, work was 

 begun on the vegetative propagation of an elm, the Christine Buisman variety 

 of Ulmus carpinifoUa, which has been found to be resistant to the Dutch elm 

 disease. Not more than 54 percent of the root-cuttings taken in early December 

 lived more than 24 weeks after their insertion in sand, with proximal ends ex- 

 posed, in a greenhouse bench; and the average length of the top growth made 

 meanwhile was 4.5 inches. Root-cuttings taken in early March and similarly 

 handled made root and top growth much more rapidly, with 95 percent of them 

 living and rooted at the end of 59 days; and the average length of the top growth 

 made meanwhile was 9.0 inches. Early March root-cuttings which were wholly 

 covered, both distal and proximal ends under the sand, gave very inferior results. 



Talc was compared with activated charcoal as a carrier of indolebutyric acid 

 or naphthaleneacetic acid applied to cuttings by the powder-dip method. Talc 

 so used gave better results than the charcoal with cuttings of English ivy, Hinoki 

 cypress, bearberry, Pyracanthn coccinea, Ilex crenata, Picea glauca and Berberis 

 Sargentiana. 



Taken in October, cuttings of American holly rooted equally well in sand 

 and in flue-ash, but there was a better survival of cuttings of hemlock in sand 

 than in flue-ash. 



December cuttings of Canada hemlock rooted in larger percentages if made of 

 wood in its first or second year rather than of wood in its third year. The rooting 

 of cuttings of Carolina hemlock was much improved by indolebutyric acid 200 

 mg./l., 23 hours. 



Cuttings of sugar maple rooted fairly well if taken in June and treated with 

 indolebutyric acid but there was a high mortality among the rooted cuttings 

 during the following winter in the greenhouse. Rooting of November cuttings 

 of Berberis Sargtntiana was hastened by indolebutyric acid 6 or 12 mg./gm. talc. 

 Cuttings of Rhododendron calendulaceum taken in June rooted poorly without 

 treatment, verj^ well after instanteous-dip treatment with indolebutyric acid 

 5 mg./cc. 



Two papers were written and published. ^ 



Diseases of Plants Caused by Soil-Infesting Organisms, with Particular 

 Attention to Control Measures. (W. L. Doran.) Fungicides were applied to 

 soils in a carrier of commercial fertilizer (usually a 5-8-7 formula at the rate of 

 15.6 grams per square foot of soil surface) immediately before seeding. Their 

 effects on the damping-off of several vegetables, on smut of onion (caused by 



^Doran, W. L. and Beaumont, A. B. Vegetative propagation of kudzu. Jour. Amer. Soc. 

 Agron, 39:9:834-835. 1947 (Mass. Agr. Expt. Sta. Contrib. No. 625). 



Doran, W. L. Get out your knife and see how you can multiply. Horticulture 25:15:447, 

 461. 1947. 



