Stimulation of Root Growth in Cuttings 



121 



EFFECT OF CONTINUOUS TREATMENT WITH SUGAR SOLUTIONS 



Effect of sugar alone on immature twigs 



The experiments just reported indicate that iipmature twigs left for 

 a short time in sugar solutions will absorb part of the sugar and store 

 it in the stems as starch. The resulting root growth is very much greater 

 than in untreated twigs. The effect of sugar solutions on immature twigs 

 under continuous treatment was studied in the following experiment. 



Immature terminal parts of Ligustrum twigs, 20 centimeters long, 

 were taken on September 4, and were treated as indicated in table 15 

 and then set away in the dark. No roots were developed on the twigs 

 left continuously in 5-per-cent cane sugar. Apparently the growth of 

 microorganisms had produced toxic compounds which inhibited growth. 

 The twigs that were removed from the sugar at the end of eleven days 

 eventually developed roots. All the check twigs died. 



TABLE 15. Effect of Sugar Solutions on Immatuhe Cuttings of Ligustrum under 



Continuous Treatment 



(Duration of experiment, September 4 to November 10, 1915) 



