The Sun.
London, England, 1847-06-01 00:00:00

RE-APPEARANCE of the POTATO

DISEASE.
(From the Dublin ,vening Post.)
The reader will peruse with thep regret a stilton' nt
from the Carlow Sentinel regarding the failure among'st
the potatoes (for we would hope even against hope, that
it will not prove general) in the Queen's County and in
Carlow. We shall say nothing ourselves on this distress-
ing subject—having all along exerted what influence w.
might be supposed to possess to warn the farmer again?!
the potato—except to subscribe unconditionally to the
opinion of our Carlow contemporary, that it would poet
absurd and mischievous to inspire hopes which maybe realised. Nay, it would be treacherous to the law
lords and farmers of Ireland. u. sent
Just as the preceding rrrerenee was about to ~- . 0
to the printer, we received the following conloleicati°of
from the firm of Messrs. Higgins and Co., seedmeht
College-green "
TO THE EDITOR OF THE " DUBLIN EVENING p°6l.. •
Sir,—We hesitate not to communicate to you2f,t_
result of an experiment made by us on the potato P,,h;
which, we regret to say, leaves but slender hope 0'
curing the growing crops free from disease.
considerable
Being of the opinion that there was very
risk in cultivating potatoes this season, we planted a few
sets in a green-house, which soon vegetated, 11,
`atal disease suddenly, but certainly, appeared' lot flourished beautifully until about a week ago, writ the
same day our attention was attracted to a ployteg
ground, in which was growing, up to that timed of
luxuriantly, a variety called early martin, the, tbeeo
which had been saved with the utmost care, hav'eeed to
Le
what is termed greened. On examination they pr°oso
be decidedly affected, and in a manner similar to
grown in the greenhouse. public
We have decided on making the above faCta ;treacly
as possible ; as we have learned this day, that —have
some hundreds of acres in the county of Carlow
been ascertained to be irretrievably attacked.
ry th,e,
The disease assumes various typesi T•rrueersstale"
leaves speedily black and curl. In Carlow, the
are found to be affected just below the ground. to WI
We delay not now to make any suggestions as
Ca to
the calamity may be mitigated ; but purpose at e„„joa.
make them the subject matter of another conita'-
tion.—We remain, Sir, your obedient servants, oss.
JOSEPH HIGGINS AND S
29, College-green, 29th May, 1847.
County,
urooeTruoAnhof
varioust
fine
yoi
CARLOW,
fopoeal
watlnhroo,dtewns
MAYsianeoTpgvf
pehietrushaar2lerts ha9dfibn.eae—acylsredt:Asanot
ayeafngmdddieoeonifnspi
tentlrseajorinmsdei
egefuaev
eicntrnehri
ndeiwt
this town,
r idhhuet
otongewi t visitspoune
called
eps bp
stalk looked healthy, and presented no extern
ante of disease, but on a close examination et. fly pot
near the tuber, the disease was visible--evielelivele
gressing upwards, and in a state of transition
catty
as tnadlordinary,
o green
e o nt ht
ienaunseedet doh someeiiannistphiyr
.e Tco
sickly state of decomposition ; and what is ta,"eand
only be absurd but mischievous. We, thereforelayeoe
"erne
those who planted potatoes to'ude for thane"'
' caresso
go through their fields, to examine the stalk :
near the tuber, and if they find the slightest aPPed fora
of disease, let them forthwith prepare the gr°lrorple,eet"
crop of white beet, or turr,ips, while the seastelm,— ye:
hopes of success, Ita
ing such crops continues. The potato CrP.,,—binsser,/
looked healthy and luxuriant until it came iripa itss
in July ; then it was that the disease inspires!' Or
Waseal
thsisouinclato,,,saa..7l
generally ; but we entertain no doubt viliateve%arioet,.
was progressing steadily from a much earuend
although its effects were not visible. The r„4O-11
that late period was useless ; but if upon exatertsiotewe
this early stage of its growth the tato is found
cg;
po _ - ho
e warn those who may still cling to the fowl
securing a full crop, in direct opposition to the 0 0
of their senses, to prepare the land for such a T*4
will not fail in due time to repay the labour be
its cultivation. The people this year did net, re 40001.1
potato as a general article of food, and it is ttir
they did not. Its cultivation was very gee' lOW
as an experiment, grain and green crops to
toted ; and if the experiment behlas-i,
hazard it have ample time to supplY, the dee ar the
Since the foregoing was written we visited ellof Car
prove a failure, t ficienef•
most healthy fields in appearance in the vieinitl,4sted it
low. The gentleman to whom it belongs eu"'„„d the
with great care, and planted them in October; p 0 •
fact can no longer be concealed, that although
breve
mination is formed, the crop is gone. If the farmer, r breve
mination of the stalk at the tuber, find the colllet that
instead of a purple tint, he may rely on the
sin ear
disease has set in and will go on. Let every ins
ever, examine his own crop, and judge for hi