118 



Otis F. Curtis 



The table indicates that when unripe succulent twigs are allowed to 

 stand in sugar solutions for a short time, the resulting root growth is 

 markedly increased, the greatest increase in this case being shown by the 

 twigs in the strongest solution. 



Treatment for one day, for two days, and for twelve days 



On the same date as that of the preceding experiment, immature twigs 

 were treated with sugar solutions as indicated in table 13 and were then 

 rinsed and placed in sand in the cutting bench. These twigs were immature 

 terminal parts, less succulent than those used in the preceding experiment. 

 The leaves were removed before the twigs were placed in the solution. 



TABLE 13. Effect of Duration of Treatment with Sugar on Ligustrum Cuttings 

 (Duration of experiment, August 30 to October 30, 1915) 



Two twigs of the check and two of those in 5-per-cent cane sugar were 

 sectioned on the fifth day and tested for starch. The checks showed no. 

 starch either at the base, at 2 centimeters above the base, or at 15 centi- 

 meters above the base, while the twigs from the sugar solution showed 

 starch at all three levels. Sugar must therefore have been absorbed and 

 stored in the twigs as starch. In this lot many of the twigs apparently 

 did not have sufficient food stored to allow for any growth, as ten out of 

 eighteen in the better of the check cultures failed to develop roots. 

 When allowed to stand in a sugar solution for two days or more, sufficient 

 food was stored to allow growth of both roots and tops. The tops were 

 not measured, as the new shoots were very short with but few leaves. 

 The condition of the cuttings at the time when the roots were measured 

 is shown in figure 7. 



