The Sun.
London, England, 1847-06-14 00:00:00

THE POTATO DISEASE.

The reports from Ireland continue to hold out favour-
able hopes for the forthcoming crisp. We give the
lowing resume of intelligence from various parts of the
country: --
DUBLIN. JUNE 9.—There is so much diversity of opi-
nion as to the actual state of the potato crop, that infer-
(nation of an official and authentic character is greatly
to be desired. We are happy that it is now in our
power to supply such, and from a part of the
country—the county of Waterford—where the disease
has been represented as very prevalent and destructive.
The inspector of drainage under the Board of Public
Works, in the barony of Coshmore and Cosbbridge, in
that count•, has addressed the following letter to the
Dublin Evening Posit :

"Lismore, June S. n
"Sir,—Herewith I send you extracts from my reports
on the subject of the potato crop, which yon can use as
you think proper. You will see froth the extract front
the general report in March, that I was averse to ex-
tensive cultivation ; but every day coberists me in nil
opinion that we are likely to ha►e a proli6ocrop.—lam,
sir, your very obedient servant,
" H. HUTCHINSON.
•" Extracts from the Reports of Henry Hutchinson, In-
spector of Drainage for the Barony of Coshmore and
Coihbridge, County of Waterford, from the 15th day
of March to the sth of June inclusive:—
" Extract from the General Rpp..rt ordered the 28th

March, 18.0.
" There is a considerable quantity of potatoes planted
throughout the barony, in pieces of from one to five and
six acres, and I have seen more potatoes within the last
month than I saw in the six preceding months, clearly
showing that the seed has been saved in spite of the
general failure ; and in many instances where the lands
have not been dug and are opened now, the seed, though
small, comes but with fresh sprouts and sound. This is
almost a matter of regret, as I am afraid, if successful,
it will be the means of keeping them in their former
habits, and also prevent a greater breadth of other roots
being cultivated.
_ _

" VVeek ending March 20. --I have also to report upon
a large quantity of potatoes being planted in various
parts of the barony, and of the discovery of seed po-
tatoes amongst the farmers, where a few weeks ago I
suppose no such thing as a potato was to be found.
" April 10.— Potato planting still goes on rapidly in
the barony. _ .

" April 24.—The wheat and oats are looking remark-
ably well, and potato planting goes on at a rate that is
truly surprising. lam clearly of opinion that scores who
appeared to possess none have been sowing the seed, and
in some cases it is now making its appearance.
" May I.—Potato planting still goes on in every
quarter to a considerable extent, and those which I have
examined appear to be doing very well.
" May 16.—The potatoes which are coming up are
looking well.
" May 22.—Setting aside the damage, by continued
rain, the crops of all descriptions have improved wonder-
fully. Everything is looking well, particularly the
potatoes, which are getting over ground.
" May 29.—The whole of the crops look exceedingly
well; particularly the potatoes, which, in some cases,
are up from eight inches to a foot over ground—their
general appearance very healthy. Pota...oes are looking
well through the entire barony, strong and vigorous, and
there is not the slightest appearance of disease in any
Part. A few patches in exposed situations were caught
by the sharp winds and frosty nights, ao as to curl the
leaf, which is not unusual. Generally speaking, the
whole are in excellent condition. I have nut a doubt of
their arriving at full maturity."
" Extract from the 14-port of Thomas Waters, Sub-In-
spector of Drainage in Templemichael, &c., for the
Week ending sth of June, 1847.
" On my inspection of the different drainage works, I
find that the potato crop at the present time looks most
healthful, and, from inquiries through the farmers, they
say the crop never looked better at this time of the year
(so say they), strong and vigorous in the stem. There
are many farmers now regrrttinz that they had not
planted much more, now
that
the crop is looking on
well; also the wheat, a prolific crop; the bete, or, as
they call it here, here bsrley, shot out in many parts of
the country, a very fine crop indeed; the oats also doing
very well."
The barony to which those returns refer is tensed
" the garden of the county of Waterford," being tar the
finest and riches land in that county. Of all kinds of
crops those official rep..rts, which are probably b) this
time in the hands or the Government. give a most gra-
tifying account. But it would not, we fear. be safe to
place full reliance upon the potato crop. notwithstanding,
unquestionable evidence of disease has been ascer-
tained in various quarters. A gentleman of the
sfreatest respectability, residing at the north aide of
Dublin, examined his potato fields this morning, in
consequence of the circular from the Royal Agricultural
•ioeietv, and, although t ey exhibited a most luxuriant
appearance, he found, on close examination, that the stalk
between the root and the surtace of the ground was
marked by diseased spots. This gentleman has adopted
the advice of the society, by dibbling turnip seed into the
beds.
We have also learned that the disease has certainly ap-
peared amongst the p‘ ts:oes in the county of Wicklow;
and that some farmers have come into Dublin, to acquaint
their landlords with the fact.
From most of the ocher counties, the reports of the
potato crop are still favourable, and all accounts agree
that the grain and green crops promise great abundance.
But from the counties of Cork and Carlow there are
accounts this morning that the potato crop is certainly
infected.
COUNTY Or CARLOW,—Leigblin bridge, June B.
The plague has made its appearance in this our-
hood, but by no means so extensive as the reports from
Carlow might lead us to imagine. So far es: our ob-
servation goes, the advice of ploughing them out, and
substituting some other crop, is, to say the least, we think,
premature.
There has been a fair extent of land put
under parsnips last spring here, but whether from the
first attempt at their culture or old seed, many have to
complain of failure. The grain crops are looking beau-
tifully, wheat particularly so, and with a continuance of
hot weather will be harvested much sooner than was at
an earlier period of the season anticipated. The turnip
sowing, when finished, will be unusually extensive; it is
feared too much so in very many instances with small land-
holders, who will not be able to procure stock for their
consumption.
COUNTY OF KILKENNY.—The Kilkenny Journal of
June 9 contains no reference to the potato crop in that
county.
PROVINCE OF ULSTER.—The Banner of Ulster of
Tuesday thus reports on the state of the potato crop in
the northern province:—
" From all we can learn—from public newspapers and
private correspondence—we are inclined to view the
matter, in any event, as greatly exaggerated. It may
not be out of place here to remind the people that in
1839 and 1840 the ' miss' of potatoes was little less
damaging than the disease of last year. Our correspon-
dence, without an exception, in the north. represents the
potatoes as free trom infection in the stalk, and those
which have produced good-sized tubers, to be perfectly
sound. From the north of the county Down we are in-
formed that crops of all kinds, potatoes included, look
remarkably well and healthy, with the exception of
flax.' From other counties in the province we have
accounts not varying an atom in character, and all of
them highly favourable.
COUNTY or Cones—The Cork Constitution of Tuesday
contains thefollowing:—
" Very forward specimens of the growing crops, giving
every promise of an abundant and early harvest, have
been sent to this office ; amongst them some bore barley,
well advanced, tour feet in height from the root. The
appearance of the potato crop in the division of Donoughe
more is, up to the present moment, most encouraging to
the farmers, who have speculated upon s healthy crop
this year ; and though the quantity of land under pota-
toes bears but a small proportion to that occupied by this
esculent in former years (probably not more than two
acres upon the average of the farms in the country, and
the labourers have discontinued to set any). tt considerable
quantity of potatoes is planted, in various stages of
maturity, and all without the slightest appearance of
failure. A quantity of seed which failed upon one
gentleman last year is now promising an abundant and
healthy crop.
" Woodfort, Bandon, June 5.—1 this day saw dfig,
and eat of, a very fine sample of quarry potatoes, with-
out any appearance of disease, grown in the garden of
J. B. Warren, Esq. They were planted the 26th of
September. 1846, and manured with decomposed leaves.
As Mr. Warren has tried every experiment recom-
mended by the best authorities, and panted them from
to the pro sent time, at regular intervals of a
upuech of which are growing vigorously and
tnatdatefortnight,
well, it leaves room for hope that this dispensation of
Providence may be lessened this year, and give us abund-
ance again in this unfortunate country.
" ALCOCK OTTLEY.'
The following comes to us without a name. This
we regret, as, on this subject, unauthenticated communi-
sations are looked on with suspicion:-
6 Tallow, June s,—The blight in the potato amp