214 TOBACCO LEAF. 



the reddening, "splotching" or sponging of the leaf 

 during the second stage, when the color is fixed. The 

 sweating of the leaf at this period must be checked, by 

 admission of air to the barn by the opening of all doors 

 and windows, and by opening a space between the logs 

 on the side opposite the door. Mr. Eagland says, just 

 at this point more_failures are made than a.t any other 

 stage of the process. "Five curings are spoiled by forc- 

 ing too fast, to one from going too slow." 



Captain E. M. Pace, of South Carolina, gives the 

 following directions for curing when the leaves are 



a 



FIG. 58. STOVES AND FLUES FOR CURING SEEDLEAF. 



stripped from the stalk. "Take off the thoroughly 

 ripe leaves after a light shower, or early, when the dew 

 is heaviest ; string and run the tobacco in the barn be- 

 fore it has time to wilt. In case there is no light 

 shower, use plenty of water around the sides of the barn 

 below the first tiers. Suspend a plank over the main 

 flues, to keep the heat from scalding the tobacco on the 

 lower tiers (these can be removed after the sweating). 

 Use pans filled with water on the flues and furnace. 

 This will assist in producing a moisture, or warm vapor, 

 thereby aiding the leaf to sweat. The entire barn must 

 sweat freely. Heat and water will do it. Stop the use 

 of water on the sides and floor as soon as the leaf begins 

 to sweat. When the leaf begins to sweat, say at 110, 



