I don't know what your problem is/was but i have had cuttings that im callousing diaper when i go looking something has picked it up and climbed down off my hot tub (4 ft high) and slip in the side where the pipes are!!!! i get most back but i never found 2 and one tip cutting turned in to a center cutting!!!!i think in my case its field mice/rats! not sure same thing but i started 40 brocc plants and 20 cabbage plants they where doing great till i moved them to water and then the next day ALL of them where gone i thought i was freaking out for a minute. it happens in my garden and there i think rabbits but i dont think rabbits jump on to a 4 ft hot tub! good luck how big was your tree? what kind was it? good luck !!!!
mike