Try making some willow water.

Here is a link that might be useful: homemade plant rooting hormone

also the dogwood tree cutting has formed its buds, can i still grow it? I could really use ken's advice/help

what you ought to do.. is google something like :

dogwood propagation .. and then CM propagation .. and then birch prop ...

and/or.. get Dirr's manual for woody propagation ...

TIMING is very important.. on a lot of this stuff.. and i dont know if you are close on that.. and i do not ever recall that birch are rootable.. but to be honest.. i cant ever recall discussing such.. lol ...

you might also want to look in 'air layering'

good luck

ken

ok, will do ken. Still puzzled at air layering

Rooting hormones are a relatively inexpensive way to increase your chances. I can't see why you would want to avoid using them.
I went the whole route. Bottom heat, a mist system on a timer, all under lath and shade cloth. Oh yes, and a rooting hormone. I successfully propagated hundreds of shrubs and trees.
You should check out the GardenWeb Plant Propagation Forum.
http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/propa/
Mike

Here is a link that might be useful: Plant propagation.