Abstract
Norway spruce cuttings were collected at intervals throughout the year, subjected to treatment with talc dusts containing from 5 up to 10,000 p.p.m. of indolylacetic acid, and propagated in outdoor frames. In some experiments, indolylacetic acid treatments were included in a series of dusts involving cane sugar, potassium acid phosphate, and organic mercurial disinfectants. Effects of wax coating of cuttings of Norway and white spruce and eastern white cedar were also considered.Indolylacetic acid treatment failed to have any general beneficial effects on rooting; concentrations of 8000 and 10,000 p.p.m. were usually injurious. However, treatment of apparently dormant cuttings, taken shortly before emergence of new growth, with 1000 p.p.m. gave 25% rooting, as compared to 8% for the controls, and tended to increase the length of root. Treatments with organic mercury, cane sugar, and potassium acid phosphate increased survival of new growth, and, in combination with indolylacetic acid, increased survival and root lengths.Talc treatment increased rooting to as much as 70% for cuttings planted in sand as compared to 25% for the controls, but had no effect on plantings in a sand–peat mixture. Talc effects were the most marked on cuttings taken before emergence of new growth and when planting was delayed for 24 hr. after treatment.Wax application had no effect on dormant spruce cuttings but was markedly injurious to summer collections. Injurious effects were reduced when wax was used in conjunction with indolylacetic acid treatment.
Published Version
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