I came across this fig propagation youtube video.  Unfortunately it is in french.  About 1:20 into the video the guy dips his cutting ends into a black powder.  It looks like charcoal.  I was wondering if anyone could tell me what it is and what it's purpose is.  Thanks

Sounds like he is saying wood charcoal , but my French isn't that good.

Hi,
See the black stone at the beginning . It is charcoal. He crushed it in the cup and the charcoal powder is supposed to avoid mold and rot . So he puts some on the wounds to seal the cutting .
Funny that he doesn't say what he is propagating. Just a figtree and no strain ...

Thanks guys.  Maybe I will look into the charcoal thing a little more and give it a try. 

jdsfrance, I never throught of just going straight to you.

In a nutshell, he dips his cuttings in charcoal powder and inserts the cuttings in the potting soil at 45-degree angle.

Why the 45 degree angle.

with a shallow as that pan is, the 45 degree angle allows you to plant the cutting deeper thus creating more surface contact between the cutting and the soil.

Wow, thanks.  I'm going to try this this weekend.  Searching online I also found reference to folks using charcoal powder on the soil surface to eliminate damping off of seedlings (I usually use cinnamon for that when things go badly)...interesting.