The Sun.
London, England, 1847-02-09 00:00:00

ADVICE TO CROFTERS AND

COT TARS.

We are glad to perceive that the Scottish Patriotic
Society established in Edinburgh has published a very
useful and timous address to crofters and cotters on the
emergency occasioned by the failure of the potato crop,
which is as follows :

" The distressing visitation of Providence in the gene-
ral failure of the potato crop of 1846, and the extreme
destitution which it has brought upon multitudes who
depended chiefly or entirely upon it for subsistence, is
calling forth the benevolent efforts of proprietors and
others to mitigate the existing distress, and to prevent,
as far as possible, the recurrence of it in future. These
efforts must be rendered effective by your owl, exertions
and industry. From the kail gardens of the labourer to
5, 10, or 15 acre allotment of the crofter or cottar, a
neglect of the first and most obvious principles of good
husbandry, almost universally prevails. The manure,
or fertilising substances from the dwellinzs, which would
render the ground productive, if properly applied,
in the vast majority of instances, is not only wasted,
but is wasted in such a manner as frequently
to occasion fever and death to those who live near it.
Were the ensuing season to be ever so productive, .there
is every human prospect that, in a vast many cases, on
account of no seed being left, the distress, so severe and
great at present, must be still heavier in 1847. It thus
becomes the duty of every one to economise the means of
subsistence. If you are now able to provide for yourself
and those dependent on you, it will be your duty to see
whether you cannot by economy and improved cultiva •
tion, raise additional produce from your ground during
the next season inasmuch as there is every prospect of
your less successful neighbours being in such destitution
as to require your friendly sympathy and aid. if you are
now unable to provide for your family, there is a still
greater necessity for yourusing every effort torender your-
self independent of public charity in future. Whether
you possess merely a garden or a croft bear in mind these
truths, that if,you would reap good crops you must tho-
roughly drain your land, it must be well trenched with the
spade or grape, well lunged, not only with the usual man-
ure, but with the liquid portion, which contains the most
fertilising elements, and is almost universally wasted,
must be carefully saved and applied to your crops during
their various stages of growth. Your crops must be laid
ddwn at the proper time, and kept clear of weeds. Crops
are mentioned, because it is evident that far too much
reliance has been placed on the potato as an article of
food. Before its introduction into the Highlands, the
people lived much upon peasemeal, a substance con-
taining great nourishment ; instead. therefore, of plant-
ing the ground you may have, exclusively or chiefly
with potatoes, even should they be within your reach,
no time should be lost in adopting such a variety of
crops as may in all probability save you from the
destitution which has resulted from relying chiefly
upon the potato. The crofter having prepared his
land in the manner above described, should lose no time
in planting some potatoes, if he can',brain sets for seed,
but we recommend him only to plant one-fourth of
his usual quantity, as it is probable from successive
failures in other countries, that the same disease may
here again affect them. Autumn and winter planting
has proved the most successful way of escaping failure.
The potato sets being put six inches below the surface
have invariably escaped injury from frost, and the crop
has arrived at ripeness before the disease commenced, so
that of those early planted potatoes, in some instances,
not more than one potato in ten was effected by disease.
A variety and succession of green crops must, however,
be your aim, if you wish your cultivation to be success-
ful and remunerating, and you should be prepared by
the middle of February to cut them down. We strongly
advise your procuring a number of early cabbage plants
to put out in clean dry land. They will be ready to cut
in June, and those who have not been accustomed to
grow cabbages little know how valuable an addition such
a crop will be found at that time of the year, and what a
cheek it will give to the continual demand for meal.
Plant the cabbages in rows about 20 inches apart, and 18
inches between each plant, and dibble potatoes between
the rows, which will come on as a second crop, after the
cabbages have been cut and used. The cotter should
have two objects in view—first, making the ground so
rich with fertilizing substances as to grow the crop to
the highest perfection; and, secondly, to grow two
crops in the same season on part of his land. Thus,
in the case of potatoes dibbled between the rows of
cabbages, the latter will he used before the potato tops
are injured by them, and in this manner two crops may
be obtained in the season. Jerusalem artichokes also, a
very valuable vegetable, which gives as large a return as
the potato, is equally nourishing, will grow in any soil,
and the tops and leaves of which form good and whole-
some food for cows, may be dibbled between the rows of
cabbages, and will give a certain and useful second crop;
or late beans may be planted between the cabbage
rows, and will give as good a crop as if no cabbage had
grown on the ground; or after each day's cutting
of the early cabbages, drumhead cabbages may be
planted in the same ground, which will probably, if the
land be rich, grow from ten to forty pounds each be-
fore winter arrives. It is desirable to have late cabbages
prepared for this purpose, by having them transplanted
several times in a garden betore finally planting out, as
their roots thus get into a fine state, and if, when
planted, a little liquid manure be poured over the
loose earth, round the stem, so as to settle it about
the roots, it will never flag, but will at once com-
mence to grow vigorously, whereas one not previously
transplanted will not grow for ten days or a fortnight,
which is a great. loss. Two crops may also be se-
cured by sowing rye, oats, or barley early, to be cut in
July as foggage, or used for hay, and late cabbages
planted by the Ist of August will give a good crop betore
winter, as we have ourselves experienced this year, al-
though the cabbages were not planted till the 12th of that
month. Next to the cabbage tribe in value to the cottar,
especially if he has cows, comes the parsnip, which
should be sown in March. Pease, turnips, beetroot, car-
rots, and mangle- wurzel, should be all tried this season,
in addition to the barley and oats which the crofter may
have been in the habit of sowing.,
The destitution which has arisen through the ne-
glected cultivation of the crofts and small tenantcies is
deeply to be regretted, the longer, however, you defer
improving your- lots, the greater and more protrac'ced
your sufferings must be ; the Scottish Patriotic Society
would therefore urge on you the duty of immediate and
diligent improvement. The society will place in your
hands monthly directions for garden and field labour,
and plain instructions upon draining, on fertilizers, on
spade husbandry and its successful results, on stall
feeding, on green cropping, on liquid manuring, on the
management and value of bees, and on similar subjects
of utility, in order to excite, and to facilitate your efforts.
The promoters of the S. P. Society to take this op-
portunity of respectfully inviting proprietors arid all who
have the present and permanent welfare of the labouring
classes at heart, to co-operate and to communicate with.
them, and as without the adoption of the most provident
means, great and augmented destitution must await vast
masses of the community during the ensuing year, the
society urgently advises proprietors and influential per-
sons in parishes and districts where distress may exist,
to lose no time in employing the able-bodied male and
female population, to whom railway or other works are
unsuitable, in trenching and cropping land, in order to
produce in each district the staple articles of food at
prime cost, which will be urgently needed for their sus-
tentation ; and as the society is established for promoting
'such improvements, it is prepared to supply such bene-
volent parties with well matured plans, and every re-
quisite information."