The Sun.
London, England, 1846-03-12 00:00:00

POTATOES.

(From the Limerick and Clare Examiner, of March 7.)
Through the kindness of an intelligent and benevolent
landlord, who irstituted a statistical inquiry into the
condition of the agricultural population in a very large
and extensive county parish in the neighbourhood of
this city, we are enabled to publish the following parti-
culars, the importance and alarming nature of which
cannot be overrated:—

The classification embraces the number of families,
the number of persons comprising each family, the num-
ber of persons in each family under ton years, the num-
ber over ten year:, the number not employed, the num-
ber employed, the rate of wages per week, the quantity
of potatoes on hands last November, the quantity on
hands at present, the quantity of potatoo land tilled, the
quantity of land sufficient, by whom employed, and
remarks.

The parish is divided into ten townlands, and contains
342 families ; populat;on, 1,942 ; number of persons not
employed, 286. The quantity of potatoes on hand, in
November, was 10,425 barrels of 48 stone each. At
present there are but 2,245 i barrels, the greater part of
which are rapidly running into decay I
In one townland the number of families was 75 ; the
population was 435 ; number of persons under ten years
of age, 114 ; number of persons over ten years of age,
325 ; number not employed, 145 ; number employed,
45 ; rate of wages received per week, 64 shillings ;
quantity of potatoes in November, 1,884 barrels ; quan-
tity now on hand, 3911 barrels ; quantity of potato land
tilled, 53 acres 2 roods and 3 perches ; quantity of land
sufficient, 36 acres additional

The above is the list of labourers' holdings. Next is
the landholders' list in the same townland. Families,
29, comprising 258 members, 54 under ten years of age,
and 202 over ten. Quantity of potatoes on hand in
November, 2,830 barrels; quantity now on hands, 501;
quantity of land tilled, 781 acres; quantity of con-acre,
25 acres; produce of con acre in November, 1,013 bar-
rels; produce at present, 315 barrels; rate of con-acre
average 71. 15s. per acre.
The average of the remaining townlands is somewhat
similar. There is no material difference ; and so it be-
comes unnecessary to publish particulars. The deductions
are plain and appalling in the extreme. If 10, 425 barrels
of potatoes were produced for a twelve month's consump-
tion for 1,942 people, each month's consumption would
amount to about 870 barrels. The quantity on hands,
even supposing the present potatoes to remain free
from progressive disease, would only last for a little
over two months ; that is to about May-day ; whilst
the terrific certainty of an entire absence of food
for five or six months stares us in the face.
But, again, supposing that the disease progresses
with a rapidity equal to what is experienced at
present, the stock on hands will not last more
than six weeks at farthest. The account of money re-
quired to purchase the necessaries of life fur the labour-
ing portion of the parish to which we have alluded at,
say, 305. per head for the time stated, would be about
2,900/. The average fcr the county would be very near
the enormous sum of 90,000/. This statement requires
net one word of comment.