THE "POWER OF WATER" IN PLANT PROPAGATION 
The importance of water in methods of plant propagation becomes 
more and more apparent. We showed photographs on this page in our 
1951-52 catalog of the use of fog lines in our greenhouses, and follow- 
ing the success of these methods, in the summer of 1952 we applied fog 
lines to a small section of bench in the open. Cuttings of all kinds 
were inserted and maintained under a constant mist, but without any top 
protection from sun or rain. The results were so promising that this 
year we have set up two lines in one of our long sash houses, and have 
inserted considerable quantities of cuttings of many different kinds. 
These tests are of some importance because they are of commercial pro- 
portions, and we can obtain an accurate idea of the value of this method 
of propagation under normal commercial conditions. Results so far are 
excellent. 
DORBELOLURME 
This shows a general view of the sash house with fog lines in oper- 
ation. Jets are set 18 inches apart, and alternate from side to Side. 
The house being 186 feet long, water is fed to the lines from both ends 
to eliminate drop in pressure. Water comes from our pressure tank, 
through a fine screen at pressures of from 60 to 70 lbs. psi. Note that 
there is complete coverage of the plants with water at all times. The 
fog lines are run from early morning till sun-down, and on hot nights run 
right through. 
RESULTS. 
Bottom left. Cuttings of Thuja (Biota) aurea nana. Small tests 
last year rooted these cuttings 8%. You will note that in the top 
picture the bench on the left is filled with similar cuttings. These are 
rooting now----August 20th----and from the 10,000 inserted we expect a 
high percentage of well rooted cuttings. They were inserted June Sth, 
in plain coarse sand. 
Bottom center. Cuttings of Kurume azaleas as lifted from the bench. 
Medium 50% sand - 50% peat. All azaleas responded exceptionally well 
to this method of propagation. About 20,000 cuttings are now in this 
house and all are rooting well. 
Bottom right. Magnolias rooted rapidly and without loss under open 
air constant mist. The photograph shows cuttings of M,. Stellata, which 
rooted 91%. Soft cuttings of almost all types root best, and this year 
we have rooted M, Lenne and M. Wilsoni with good percentages. The bench 
top right is filled with magnolias, all of which have now been potted, 
Pieris Japonica, Viburnum Carlsii, Forsythia vars, Prunus vars, to 
mention but a few, have responded equally well. One of the main points 
of interest is that plants which will not root under normal conditions 
in the greenhouse, may root well under open air conditions. Berckmann'!s 
Golden Biota is a typical example. 
We believe that as growers we are only just beginning to realize 
the possible "power of water" in all types of plant propagation. 
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