Foliar raffinose and sucrose concentrations in eastern white pine (Pinus strobus L.), eastern redcedar (Juniperus virginiana L.), Leyland cypress (×Cupressocyparis leylandii Dallim.), and Virginia pine (Pinus virginiana L.) were measured monthly over 2 years. During cold weather, foliage of white pine and redcedar contained higher concentrations of raffinose and sucrose than did Leyland cypress and Virginia pine. Rafflnose concentrations were highest during winter and were best correlated with the frequency of occurrence of daily minima ≤ 1.7C during the 30 days before sampling. Sucrose concentrations, which also reached maximum levels during the winter, were best correlated with the frequency of occurrence of daily minima ≤ 7.2C in the prior 30 days. Sucrose concentrations were relatively high during fall and spring. Raffinose and sucrose concentrations increased in response to recurring low temperature, with correlations highest for raffinose.

Hardwood stem cuttings of eastern redcedar (Juniperus virginiana L.), taken from containerized stock plants fertilized weekly with 0, 5, 10, 20, 40, 80, 160, 320, or 640 ppm N, were treated with 7500 ppm IBA and placed under intermittent mist for 12 weeks. Foliar starch and sucrose concentrations within cuttings at time of excision were significantly correlated with percent rooting and root length, respectively. Of the mineral nutrients analyzed (N, P, K, Ca, Mg, Mn, and B), only B and K were significantly correlated with rooting response. A threshold N level (20 ppm), applied weekly, maximized rooting; higher concentrations decreased response. Although N fertilization of stock plants affected adventitious rooting, there were no significant correlations between foliar N levels and measures of rooting response. Chemical name used: 1 H- indole-3-butyric acid (IBA).

Postseverance treatments of wounding, auxin, disbudding, bottom heat, and chilling were examined for their effects on rooting stem cuttings (tips of primary axes) of young Fraser fir (Abiesfraseri (Pursh) Poir.) stock plants. Applied auxin consistently increased rooting percentages and the number and length of roots. Wounding alone did not affect the rooting response, but was beneficial in combination with applied auxin. Certain wounding treatments were better than others. Roots rarely emerged from wound margins and were usually observed at the base of cuttings. Bottom heat enhanced rooting, particularly in combination with wounding + auxin. Removal of lateral buds had a negligible effect on rooting. Following 4 and 8 weeks of artificial chilling, cuttings initially taken in early November rooted well if treated with wounding + indolebutyric acid. However, terminal budbreak was more complete following an 8-week chill. Cuttings taken in late January rooted well without additional chilling. Less chilling was required for rooting than for budbreak.

Success and subsequent growth of fraser fir [Abies fraseri (Pursh) Poir.] cleft grafts were studied in relation to origin and type of scion material in the tree crown. First- and second-order shoots (current-year) were collected from five zones in the crown, ranging from top to bottom, and grafted to 5-year-old fraser fir transplants in April. Success rates were similar for first- and second-order scions, whereas budbreak and subsequent growth were best for first-order scions. In general, results were best for first-order scions taken from the upper crown. Plagiotropism of grafts was similar for all crown zones and shoot types.

Containerized seedlings of eastern redcedar (Juniperus virginiana L.) were fertilized weekly for 175 days with a solution containing 50 ppm P, 150 ppm K, and either 0, 5, 10, 20, 40, 80, 160, 320, or 640 ppm N. Plant height, stem diameter, and shoot and root dry weights increased asymptotically with applied N; 640 ppm N diminished response. Growth after 175 (height, stem diameter) and 180 (shoot and root dry weights) days was optimal (90% of maximum) at N concentrations of 115, 155, 230, and 105 ppm, respectively, 1.5% foliar N optimized height growth. Foliar concentrations of N, P, and K increased in treated plants over the duration of the experiment, while Ca, Mg, and Mn decreased or remained constant. Starch concentration of fertilized plants decreased sharply after initiation of the experiment, but controls showed little change during the first 120 days. Sucrose concentration remained constant over the summer but increased sharply in late fall. At 180 days, foliar concentrations of starch, sucrose, hexose, N, P, K, and B increased asymptotically with applied N; concentrations of Ca, Mg, and Mn decreased.