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

THE POTATO DISEASE.

The reports from Ireland continue to hold out favour-
able tope,_ for the forthcoming ev.p. We give the fol-
low g resume of intelligence from v ow, 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 infor-
mation 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
Work,,, in the barony of Coshmore and Coshbridge, in
that county, has addressed the following letter to the
Dublin Evening Post :
"Llsmore, June 1.

" 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 from the extract from
the general report in March, that I was averse to ex-
tensive cultivation ; but every day confirms me in my
opinion that we are likely to have a prolific crop.—l am,
sir, your very obedient servant,
"H. HUTCHINSON.
" Extracts from the Reports of Henry Hutchinson, In-
spector of Drainage for the Barony of Coshmore and
Coshbridge, County of Waterford, from the 15th day

of Marcli'lo the sth of June inclusive:—
" Extract from the General Report ordered the nth
March, 1847.

" 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.
" Week ending March 20.—1 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 en at a rate that is
truly surprising. I am 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. Potatoes 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, so as to curl the
leaf, which is not unusual. Generally speaking, the
whole are in excellent condition. I have not a doubt of
their arriving at full maturity."
" Extract from the Report 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 regretting that they had not
planted much more, now that the crop is looking so
well; also the wheat, a prolific crop; the bare, or, as
they call it here, bare barley, 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 termed
" the garden of the county of Waterford," being far the
finest and riches land in that county. Of all kinds of
crops those official reports, which are probably by this
time in the hands of 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
greatest respectability, residing at the north side of
Dublin, examined his potato fields this morning, in
consequence of the circular from the Royal Agricultural
Society, and, although tley exhibited a most luxuriant
appearance, he found, on close examination, that the stalk
between the root and the surface 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 potatoes in the county of Wicklow;
and that some farmers have come into Dublin, to acquaint
their landlords with the fact.

From most of the other 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.—Leighlin-bridge, Jane B.
The plague has made its appearance in this neighbour-
hood, but by no means so extensive as the reports from
Carlow, might lead us to imagine. So far as; 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 or 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 •f 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 from 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 OF CORR.-The Cork Constitution of Tuesday
contains the following:—
"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 bere barley,
well advanced, four feet in height from the root. The
appearance of the potato crop in the division of Donough-
more is, up to the present moment, most encouraging to
the farmers, who have speculated upon a 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), a 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 dug,
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 planted them from
that date up to the present time, at regular intervals of a
fortnight, each of which are growing vigorously and
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-
cations are looked on with suspicion:—
Tallow, June s.—The blight in the potato crop
has, I fear, made its appearance in this neighbourhood.
In several gardens the leaves have partly withered,
which, I dread, is the commencement of the destruction
of the crop. I examined my own garden this week. I
found some of the leaves fast going to decay.'
"We do not regard this as very bad. In our own
neighbourhood a similar withering, occasioned by the
sharp and biting wind, was observed a fortnight ago, and
the owners of some of the gardens were in despair ; but
since the weather softened and the sun shone out, the
gardens have revived, and look now as flourishing as
they have in any year looked at the same season. Per-
haps this may prove to be the case at Tallow."

ARRIVAL OP SIR HARRY G. SMITU AT CHELTBN-
nsx.—Sir Harry G. Smith arrived in this town on
Monday evening, a course of the Cheltenham waters
having been recommended by his medical attendants.
In proceeding from the railway station to the Belle
Vue Hotel, Sir Harry passed near the College, the
pupils of which were drawn up in file, and sig-
nalised his approach with loud cheers. S'ir Harry
is a brief address thanked them for the compli-
ment. A considerable crowd had assembled in
front of the hotel to get a sight of the hero, but
as Sir Harry's party drove quietly up in a single
carriage, few of the watchers noticed its arrival.
The bells, however, were immediately set in motion, and
continued firing at intervals during the evening. Yes-
terday (Wednesday) at half-past one o'cock, about a
hundred of the resident gentry and tradesmen met At the
Assembly rooms. They formed a procession, headed
by Captain Kirwan, M.C., and accompanied by the
Montpellier band, for the purpose of waiting upon Sir
Harry Smith with an address of congratulation. In
presenting it, Captain Kirwan said that nearly 700 sig-
natures had been obtained, notwithstanding the short-
ness of the time. Sir Barry Smith having returned an
appropriate reply retired; and the deputation having
given three cheers for Lady Smith, also withdrew.—
-Cheltenham Chmnick

IRELAND.
GENERAL ELECTION.
Duntrq,Ng 10 —The lion. Mr. V.
•,,i fortriaily acl,iressod •,I,etors of th,
city of Llineeick, soliciting their :sniff ag. 6 on principles
totally divested of parties or prejudices. lle is opposed
to a repeal of the legislative union, and is strongly in
favour of the endowment by the State of the Roman
Catholic priesthood. The repeaters have not yet pro-
vided themselves with a candidate to succeed Mr. James
Kelly, who retires into private Te.

reker, bnAher