318 The Culture of the Camellia, 



head in water, for half an hour ; after they are taken out, 

 however, they should remain in their pot for at least twenty- 

 four hours before shifting, to drain away superfluous water. 



Much ditFerence of opinion exists, as to the best time for 

 shifting ; one party shifting in the rest season, another after 

 the plants have made their annual growth ; the latter is my 

 practice, but many good cultivators pursue the other course. 

 Indeed, it is not very material, provided the subject has a 

 sound ball and good roots, and that the subsequent manage- 

 ment is good. 



Liquid Manure. This I consider a most important affair ; 

 not but that fine camellias may be grown without it, but 

 much finer with. By its use, the flowers may be much in- 

 creased in size, and the foliage rendered much more dark and 

 glossy, than without it. 



Many are the modes of making this liquid. I will, how- 

 ever, describe mine, which I use for all purposes, for the 

 sake of simplicity, and, I may add, at nearly all periods ; 

 premising first, that I never use it unless clear, and always 

 'highly diluted. 



All urinary matters are saved, and exposed to the air for 

 nearly a month at a time ; they are then poured into a huge 

 stone cistern, placed side by side with a vessel for soot-water. 

 When a "brewing" takes place, the cistern is filled one-third 

 with clear water, — generally warm, from hot water pipes 

 contiguous. Into this, Peruvian guano, at the rate of at 

 least four ounces to a gallon, is stirred, until the guano is 

 dissolved. One-third more of the cistern is now filled with 

 the urinary matters, and the remaining third is filled up with 

 clarified soot-water, from the adjoining vessel. 



The soot-water is previously prepared, by blending as 

 much soot with water as it will carry : it requires well mix- 

 ing, and after settling a day or so, is skimmed, generally a 

 second time. 



This, of course, constitutes a highly concentrated liquid 

 manure, so powerful, that no plant would bear its application 

 undiluted. I, however, dilute it exceedingly, for I seldom 

 use more than one pint to three gallons of clear water ; our 

 large water-pots are about this measure, I believe. 



