The Sun.
London, England, 1846-02-26 00:00:00

THE POTATO DISEASE.

(From the Gardner's Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette.)
In the official report on the potato crop, by the late
Irish Commission, dated Nov. 7, 1845 seel p. 767,
1845), is the following paragraph :—" It has also been
ascertained by actual experiment that potatoes, though
diseased, will grow and produce apparently healthy
plants." Nevertheless the Commissioners thought it
imprudent to recommend the employment of such po-
tatoes " except by way of experiment ;" thinking, no
doubt, that the evidence in their favour was inconclu-
sive. We greatly regret to state that the event has jus-
tified their caution. We are now in a condition to an-
nounce positively, that although diseased potatoes will
produce plants which for a few weeks appear to be
healthy, yet that they will not remain so, and that dis-
eased sets will perpetuate disease.
It was stated at the meeting of the Horticultural So-
ciety, on Tuesday last, that it had been for some time
rumoured that the new potato crop was again attacked
in forcing-houses by the old disease; that these rumours
had become so frequent as to cause strict inquiry to be
made into their truth ; and that the result of that in-
quiry was a confirmation of the reports alluded to. Po-
tatoes were produced from Mr. Barnes, gardener to
Lady Rolle, at Bicton, in which the disease had mani-
fested itself in a manner not to be mistaken—first, by
the appearance of a brown gangrene on the haulm
underground and in the neighbourhood of the old tuber,
and next by rotting blotches on the leaves. These po-
tatoes had been planted in the autumn. In the month
of January "they were as strongly and evenly above
ground as I ever saw a field of potatoes in May," are
Mr. Barnes's words. The disease was remarked upon
taking up a portion for transplanting to a hot-bed for
forcing. Of the samples produced to the meeting of the
Horticultural Society, one, and much the worst, was the
produce of " rather badly affected tubers;" in these the
whole of the underground haulm was already gangrened
and brittle. Another sample, from tubers supposed to
have been sound, also manifested the symptoms in
putrifying blotches on the leaves, accompanied by the
underground gangrene.
In addition to this Devonshire evidence, it was men-
tioned that plans in the garden of the Horticultural
Society, examined the previous afternoon, were found
in the same state, the underground haulm having already
begun to decay in blotches. It was added that these
plants were also obtained from diseased tubers, planted
for the express purpose of watching the progress of
growth. No trace of fungi could in their instance be
discovered on the decaying spaces, after the Most careful
examination of some hours' duration ; but a white
mouldiness had manifested itself on the stems sent up
from Bicton.

But this is not all. Upon examining more carefully
the young potatoes formed by the diseased sets, we
found still further evidence of latent mischief. Some of
Mr. Barnes's potatoes had formed tubers and roots
without haulm or foliage ; they are what are called in
Cornwall " Bobbing Joans." In one of these the brown
colour on the walls of the cells, the earliest symptom of
disease, was already appearing in numerous minute
places, in the very centre of the young potato (this po-
tato became black after twenty-four hours' exposure to
the air); others were decaying on the surface, and one
of them had already rotted away. We now, therefore,
warn the public that diseased sets will produce a dis-
eased crop. Not a shadow of doubt remains upon that
point.
But, unfortunately, this intricate question is not settled
by such an announcement. On the contrary, a far more
serious consideration remains behind. Can we regard
the sound (?) potatoes saved from the diseased fields of
last year as fit for seed? It may be rash to venture
upon any prediction concerning so wholly unknown a
subject ; but, nevertheless, the interests involved in this
question are snmighty, that we must be content to bear
the reproaches which may be poured upon us if .re
hazard an opinion which the result may not confirm.
We venture, then, to declare thus early that great doubts
exist as to the fitness of seed of apparently sound po-
tatoes from diseased districts. That the remaining
potatoes of last year's crop are in an unusual
condition is certain ; they are more excitable ;
they will sprout much quicker than is cus-
tomary ; at this early period potatoes are found
in a state of advanced growth when the pits aro opened;
and this has taken place much beyond what can be
ascribed to the peculiar mildness of the season. In fact,
the old tubers of last autumn began to grow in a few
weeks after they became ripe, or what seemed so; an
event unknown in previous potato culture. Why this is,
we know not; nor shall we embarrass ourselves with
inquiring whether it is owing to this or that chemical
peculiarity. It may be very true that the potatoes have
formed unstable casein instead of stable albumen; or
some other explanation may be more correct. For us,
it is enough to know that the vitality of the potato is
affected. The living principle is changed; of that no
doubt can exist; and such being the case, it is much to
be feared that the disease of last year will continue to
appear until, or except where, the original constitution
of the potato is recovered.
But we would not sound a note of alarm upon mere
speculations. We grieve to announce that we have now
before us evidence that confirms the view we have ven-
tured to take. Among the Bicton ptatoes above alluded
to, was one which the most practised eye would, we
think, have pronounced sound ;. its skin was clear, its
texture uniformly pale yellow, with no tendency to
change colour when exposed to the air; and its surface
had not a blemish, with the exception of a small very
narrow short streak on one side, which seemed to have
been the scratch of a fork. This potato pushed vigo-
rously ; its main stem is half an inch in diameter ; it
must have shown all the symptoms of the most robust
health ; and yet gangrene has attacked the haulm just
above the tuber, and the usual blotchings have appeared
upon the loaves. This potato plant is unequivocally
diseased.

We will suppose that some trace of disease could have
been found in this potato, by cutting it into thin slices,
though we have failed to discover them by that process.
Admitting this, yet it is perfectly clear that if healthy
potatoes can only be discovered by such a process, the
crop of next season is doomed wherever sets from
diseased fields are employed.
We therefore warn the country, in the most emphatic
language that words are capable of conveying, to think
well of what is coming—to plant no potatoes to which
suspicion attaches ; and, if sets from uninfected dis-
tricts cannot be procured, to crop their land with some-
thing else. There can now be no doubt, that in the ab-
sence of such precautions, there is no security for the
potato crop of 1846.
Siace writing the above, we have received confirma-
tion of our worst fears. Mr. Errington, gardener to
Sir Philip Egerton, at Oulton, in Cheshire, writes, that
in a garden near him " the early kidney potatoes in
frames are totally destroyed." He adds, that he " saw
the frames last week, and the stems have mortified from
the leaves downwards, exactly as they did in the open
fields last September."
Mr. James Cuthill, of Camberwell, informs us that
Mr. Hale, a market-gardener at Ware, in Hertford-
shire, has had his early potatoes attacked with last
year's disease ; that "half his crop, amounting to about
sixty lights, is gone l" that the plants " were looking
well, and were about eight inches high, and all at once
they were attacked." Mr. Hall, florist, Stockwell,
saw these potatoes, and authorises Mr. Cuthill to say
so ; the owner was dusting them with lime.

We have received a sample of potatoes from Mr. Mill-
burn, of Thorpfield, near ISittsk, just taken out of the
pits, and "quite sound as far as he can judge," in which,
indeed, there is not the smallest outward sign of decay,
and yet we find every one marked with the disease upon
cutting into them. We are also informed that the
forced potatoes at Colonel 'Wyndham's, at Petworth,
have proved to be diseased, although great care was
taken in picking out what appeared to be sound sets. Of
this last case, however, we have no certain knowledge
as yet.

DEATH FROM EXTRACTING A TOOTH.—Yesterday
morning, Mr. Howling, of John-street, Tottenham-court-read, died
in consequence of the extraction of a tooth. It appears that he
fastened some silk ronod the tooth, it decayed, r. I'-:end of
en Thursday last, extracted it with the oy pulling it violeilay.
The consequence was tkat a small blood-vowel was ruptured, whick
no surgical aid eould stop. The 419es000d Wall only twenty-six years
of Ago.

THE ROBBERS OF SPAIN • is
Of all the countries in Europe, Spain is the/ one.
in
which the ancient, classical, and once universal sYste_A
of robbing on the highway exists the most uucha
With us these things have been much altered; Sria_luh
what England was sixty years ago, with Hounslow-nennd
and Finchley-common; what Italy was very 'Wilt
may be again next year.
Robbery in other countries has yielded to inerell,
population, to more rapid and more frequent intefeutbs
munication. The distances in Spain are very great'
es
high roads are few, and are carried through long
of uncultivated plains, "dehesas," through deserted to ;
dispeopled districts, "desplobados," a term more coolud.
in Spain, as in the East, than viliage is in Enewo
Andalusia is the most dangerous province, and itn,„„,
always so. This arises from the nature of the con
o 0
from being the last scene of the Moorish struggle/ seo us of
from being in the vicinity of Gibraltar, the great f ek.o,
smuggling, which prepares the raw materials for e unTet,
ditti. These evils, which are abated by internsni gesso
and the continued exertions of the authorities, i crs„rts
with troubled times, which, as the terspest steleswoo
the stormy petrel, rouses into dangerous •
worst prtions of society, and creates a sort of civil •
chexia, which can, only be put down by Peacte:. I of°
strong settled Government—blessings which, ens'ule so
long been denied to unhappy Spain ; rneantiutssoli
handbook of Spain can be complete, without gifi oftbe
account of the different classes and organ
robber system—the alphabet and rudiments of st,, cf
ling conversation while on the road. The antiquiviy.
the system which has been detailed in the Quarte„r4loo
view (cxxii. 9.) to which those about to visit '-'s;sills
de Ronda, and the wild country between
; Ily
0
and Granada, will do well to refer, espec-Ild-
regards " Jos6 Maria," who so long hel wig
illation o!.
disputed rule in those parts, and whose Ore
long remain in the mouths of those whose Igir~yo
about robbers. First and foremost come the "or
the robbers on a large scale ; they are a intlad; ellti
ganised band from eight to fourteen in nilaw`,"'oo,
armed and mounted, and entirely under the cc)-03dils
of one leader. These are the most formidable ; ofer
they seldom attack any travellers, except Wittossiit
whelming forces, and under circumstances of am
and surprise, when every thing is in their favour, fol
ante is generally useless, and can only lead tosar,
accidents : it is better to submit at once tO t'asje
mons, which will take no denial, of " WTI -40
" boca a tierra," down, mouth to the emit]. so tho
who are provided with such a sum of money Itsel
robbers think, according to their class of life, 004;
ought to carry about them, are very rarely ill filr
a frank, confident, and good humoured surrender, 01/
rally, not only prevents any bad trestmel,”6oo;
secures even civility during the disagreeable or:. 0,
pistols and sabres are, after all, a poor dot so'
Cribb said, when compared to civil ff°_,T•oci:f
deeds. The Spaniard is by nature high-breusieo,,
" caballero," and responds to any appeal to 'roe
which his nation has reason to be proud : notroj,
do
ing those moral securities, if only by way tm e'ed
assurance doubly sure, an Englishman will
100
when travelling in exposed districts, to be,Psollol
with a bag containing fifty to one hundre",.koll
which makes a handsome purse, feels heavy ishl-bri
and is that sort of amount which the Speal",4l;s.
thinks a native of this proverbially rich countrY,`"etosfr
have with him on his travels. He has a remarksib' aipit
estimating from the look of an individual, his e,,(ciolitvo
&c., how much ready money it is befitting hi
he rest
to have with him ; if the sum be not enough, trtu win
severely the depriving him of the regular sPeit'mblirs.
he considers himself entitled by the long- e5",„,(01
usage of the road. The traveller who is unr;";s010r,
together with cash, is generally made a sere,re„.-
of " pour encourager lea autres," either by beeti%:loloA„
dole palo," or by stripping to the skin, " de•lei-r.Wt
cueros," after the fashion of the thieves of old, nee, sstli•
The traveller should be particularly careful .001°,•
watch of some kind, one with a gaudy chain 14ed aro
best suited ; not to have a watch of some kin scoo,si
the traveller to more certain indignities than be stit:‘
filled purse. The money may have been ePeelserty
absence of a watch can only be accounted for 101,
meditated intention of not being robbed of it, Ic
"laedron" ec n,iders as an unjustifiable attelef.r.,.
fraud him of his right. It must be said, to thebe'sgel;
the Spanish brigand, especially those of the hig
that they rarely ill-use women or children, nerseoiie
commence firing or offering violence uniee..„4 1.00,0
The next class of robbers—omitting soils et ',sr
tinctions, such as the "salteadores," or to the
tkied
persons who lie in ambuscade, and jump out :.;","/ Syoll
prepared traveller—is the t' ratero," "the 11-110 P,
held in contempt, but is not the less dangetono• oe
brought regularly up to the profession, entinns)seioyeti
but takes to it, prore nata, of a sudden, c`",-;,,5, ;‘)I
robbery, and then returns to his pristine voes"" 01
often on the arrival of a stranger, two or threetsee:s
ill-conditioned, worst classes, get up a robber). no!' ,st
day, for the special occasion, according to th;0111,01
la occasion hacs el lodron. The raterillo, or019
is a skulking footpad, who seldom easel Off 'lo°
single and unprotected passengers, who, 1 s.
robbed, have no one to blame but theraselfteei'eori
man is justified in exposing a Spaniard to t„,he,,, osPli
of doing a little something in that line. I'loo4
with his sheep, the ploughman with his POO,Oll
vinedresser amid his grapes—all have their g forolo6
ostensibly for their individual protection/110 hey
means for assault and battery against those i.wosit
other defence but their legs and virtue.—The
of Spain.
l(1C
THE ROYAL POLYTE--
fi
INSTITUTION. st°
The directors of the above establishment, rirsilt°oll
usual good taste and judgment, have erected f` r,
a large gallery for the purpose of testing the CitioPV
very beautiful contrivance, which is now elhicoler"
for which a patent has been granted to Mr' f peg,
America. This model is for the purpose °dill"
and descending inclined planes on railways/ sliud VAN
will completely do away with deep cuttings °jos °Poi
and that too without the aid of stationary elbsifts
of the contrivances at present resorted to. ur,
siderable saving in the outlay is effected, 034
some instances to as much as 150,0001. P' 10
pending upon the surface of the count
which the railway passes. The arrangeo3„o"
merely of a number of horizontal rollers Vic 10,
between the rails of the gradients, and es ti's
screw placed underneath, and travelling °lto, ros,,r,
motive. While running upon a level ploillrieol4l
at rest, and the power of the engine 19 elosu'orsa
ordinary cases—namely, by the adhesion of at 0;o
wheels to the rail—but the moment it arrivieltediti
of the gradient the drawing wheels are art%,4
rails, and the whole power of the steam ¢°) ri
the screw, the thread of which being in ate;/
tween
,the rollers, enables the engine te,s4 i07411:0
gradient, no matter how steep. Themo"-n0,011,g
a large scale, the rails being about 70 feet 10r17.401
the form of a regular curved arch, some Plat 11
consist of gradients rising one in six, or
W shfiustOpt
feet per mile ; yet, with this fearful og
little locomotive ascends and descends, dreusrol24;
two passengers with apparent ease.
certainly does credit to the inventor, and
ewe "'
he will meet such reward as this .1111'61- el)
to insure.
the
The Lord Chancellor gave a dinner tee, iitUr
Ministers, yesterday evening, at his reside
street, Hanover-square.
METROPOMTAN BENEFIT SOCIET:-, the s-
a 44°I,e1:10fi'#01
On Monday evening the fifth anniversary t, fer,eerkic)
this valuable institution was celebrated at su''ll,lo.,,
John of Jerusalem, Rosomond-street, Clerken,f_tte opr, v. 7;
seventy gentlemen sat down to a substantiljllsr,.B2l
reflected great credit to the worthy host. gr•
presided as chairman, and was supported blcobet
.ars
land, Phillips, Bowles, Ridley, Hunter, end,s;stese
the usual loyal toasts had been drank, the v:fe,'
in a neat speech, the " Metropolitan .veen: order"
After which, Mr. Phillips sang the " Ivy Gnrt
acknowledged the great assistance
tot
he
)fit ▪p▪ e'cor
from the auxiliaries. " Proserity he beevby
scribing to the institution," was replied t°ooo °to VA
who expressed himself pleased at the elect aort Oa Of;
mittee. The healths of Lord Robert Gr°_,...e-bitifi' ti:
man, deputy chairman, Mr. Ridley, the poor' eV,It
Gilbert, the collector, were respectively Poe siter 1)„61,,
verally responded to, amid much allitioctb..„oe,q,
" Foresters,' " Loyal United Friends, 0 tArbt.,
" Druids," " Old Friends," and all or",eil of es"ts %Or
Funds." Mr. Buckland proposed the be,Lfeet°c•etilie,
excellent secretary, for his unceasing ettu—osiogde.e'ser.s
from the different orders the right of beVaseryta ft sr'
for the benefits of the institution, wh,lcrets Jo:oil";
exertions, he successfully carried ; Mr. ace 'l2' itlovveily
ceived with great enthusiasm. After 01 boo fibs
restored, Mr. Cole returned thanks for the te to,oo, sof
and t 0;
and expressed himself ever ready to Pr°lZsifest.,./ tioqistiP
his power the interesting object of the `-.0-oPgi-aOY-s4 it
pleasure it afforded him in receiving flit' ; theipeif
committee in carrying out the combinatiolin orse_..a
Several songs were sung in the course ?1:, enterw
company broke up at a late hour, higu'• of.
proceedings. 01,0 ss
(eV fsor

dhioOulgnneh:ttill:ice.:l.th inst., at Backford Hall. Chester' ' eq(e
11, tile i il.
13thm .pin
„et of,
aatdramargkh.tc:rrie.Rs:enll3t, . Stock-K:lr°. 11'
1630;5r, ,
Wiltshire,dauglater. the 16 oy,
00:
tthhee
2210stthiininu:stt.t.,..,aattartiteAyt,leidnec;eriy1,elye,OGf
light,iot ces tershire, it. 0
(1,1 a
..
()Op
Aires, i
a tti
ill
iii
ee
:2. of a daughter. of 1 10P
the II" PC°
House, the lady tele, theorrel4ll,
Esq., of a son. of I•leu
2Faoord, Hon. Com Tiortr°6,,ten's e'l'
23d inst., at the Warrick-villas!, .f a datig.. ( titi 00
On the 23d inst., Mrs. J. RPosbneY;tss,SeerLiceyeito:mifrifi: $ef.01,,441,
re
On the 234 inst., at Great Yarmouth, the ,cife
Oa the 234 inst., at Queen's-road,
Mackenzie, of a daughter. the 411'
Edwards, of a eon. if° l'if;"
rtet, 3
if ARRIED. t0n..0,00,
~., ou
of,
On the 24th inst., at St. Mary's, BrYalroy cherMl ,oe As
bald Yonng, Esq., of Quebec, Ch"TheOh.
Canada, W so.re. so, ~ u
tsr of Richard Norman, Esq., of Bryanstot,?-nocer-(lh. le,
On the 24th inst., at St. George's, Ttaughter of 6.-
_ ef
Ingham, Esq., M.D., to Fanny, second
. tiOt
Lumley, Esq, 404 •
WED. calf 'gr.' ~ )1°
re the
On the 14th inst., in Dublin, Miss Moo _./.001, ,0/
of Thomas Moore, Esq., the poet. ,;„estonoel tote
Brighton,
On the 20th inst., ht Surbiten Lodge,.!'"",;', Smith' 4.,
rs .3(1.5, ,_.sf
garct, wife of Captain John Rennie Mfiad.i.ord,
On the 20th inst., at Stoke, next C, 1 rzhil°"'
th 316
the late Lieutenant J. Smith, R.N. ~,- (~nne a),
On the 21st inst , at Bath, AllnCr wife '
late Governor r onang.
On the 21 toilt., at Clapliain-r , ..__veth O.
Plow, Esq., U.S.A., F.R.A.S. ors- L „,t. ~,,,
e, i 1,6" .1P
On the 21st inst., at Clapham-terra(' S. Mori ore,
relict of the late T. Pedley, EAPI. , street, I'deitorl-e4 qty
On the 22d inst., in Upper Wimpo!.._,rect, 0) __ tine
On the 23clinst., in Upper Chadwen 0, ,tail, Fee
anre,
Elizabeth Harriett Shaw. Dorset-5g of the
On the 23d inst., in Milton-street,
_aaDter
3,4,
of the Rev. A. R. G. Thomas. d surci,ing d veil'
On the 23d inst., Beatrice, 0( '
"ef'n ill Wilts. ,rolley,
J. M. Be of Leigh HOll5O,
.or
0_
_,r. b.
,_
~- 11.
On the 24th list., Elizabeth, wife 4 ),-
___ ,
o, 1 4
--- --„, or :.,,,ef
place, Brixton. ___ --- ---.,ol.lllL"tue ,"isiv'
TVIIP° ', a, io io
London : Printed and Published by A
N- 112, St-I.ol'oo'
Strand, Printer, at Vie Sun OfileN.ioo,o,
of ate guy ay, La tke County et .4".
2,6, 1646. lo Stay, the dengliter
rr,Aci

'v

"That
Election
qualified
their des
4aYs betz
The ei
In order
the ensul
for four 3
did that
lion, 43 I

r ra,
t,
tko hell
11,,oUis of
Avowal(
EN
The It'
Coo .'
- T
The ch
amiss
"°., 21,
4:803111'
41 ;
roa
Gffiees of
Nor' ,
cone

.....,........
T°
i1it.....1
11 t11g(
eensi
Of
the Dr(

111 Z
rkl4t.
tt,
ON,
rtt,tte
hr-wit th°l
114Z‘,. uLt':
'44
mar %`

tk
3titr
44`Nt to
41,-
11164',ZZ
Q.kika

;PAIN-.
in is the one `em
11
st
iniversal sy
(
lost unchan,fed.
Itered; Synin
Roun,low-besnid
very lately, 3n