Propagation by Cuttings
Gellatly (7) quoted the success of the East Malling Research Station in England in rooting cuttings of walnuts grown in the greenhouse and reported on his own experience in producing short roots on dormant cuttings of heartnut and Persian walnut. The writer (15) has occasionally produced roots on softwood cuttings of pecan and hickory set in a mist humidified greenhouse but the cuttings did not survive. Mist humidification has been a distinct aid in retaining foliage on softwood cuttings of filbert and Chinese chestnut until roots were formed but unless the axillary buds were developed sufficiently to make new growth immediately thereafter, little or no survival was secured. Apparently when the cuttings were succulent enough to form roots the buds were too immature to put out new shoots. If one waited until the buds were developed the tissue at the base of the cutting was too highly lignified for root formation. The use of synthetic plant hormones on cuttings of nut-tree species has been of questionable value.