1. Although some of the suckers did root many did not.

2. Of the willow cuttings from branches most did root.
Field mice ringing the base of the cuttings was the main
cause for failure in the cuttings, although the branch cuttings held up best to the field mice, leafing out regardless.

My conclusion is although willow suckers will root they are not as strong as the branch cuttings of the same size. They seem to dry up, contain more water and are less dense then a branch.