The Sun.
London, England, 1845-10-16 00:00:00

THE POTATO DISEASE.

DUBLIN, OCT. 12.—1 t is four or five weeks since attention
was first called to the appearance of the potato disease in
some districts on the eastern coast of Ireland, especially in
places four or five miles from Dublin. People here were
generally incredulous as to the existence of such a disease ;
but meantime it was spreading in all directions, and
now there are few counties in which the potato crop
has not been more or less affected. Allowing
much for exaggeration, natural perhaps where there
is such general alarm, there can be no doubt that injury
has already been done to an extent which may very
seriously diminish the only food of two-thirds at least
of the population of Ireland. But this is not all. Where
there is such a predisposition to decay and disease in the
potato, the deepest anxiety must exist as to the further pro-
gress of the malady. Even a partial failure in the potato
crop would be a great calamity in Ireland; but it is fearful
to contemplate the consequennes of anything like a general
failure.

It is now manifest that the disease is greatly influenced by
the state of the atmosphere. During a week or two of fine
weather there was a decided check, and farmers indulged the
'belief that the pestilence had ceased; it certainly was not
extending. But after a week's heavy rain, we have accounts
of the appearance and spread of the disease in almost all parts
of the country.
This day is fi,.e and dry ; and we may indulge the hope of
the continuance of favourable weather during the potatoe
digging, which is now in progress.
A letter from Ardee, county of Louth, gives the following
deplorable account :—" I am sorry to inform you that this
dire calamity is still making fearful strides, and the state
of the potato crop at present is calculated to cause the
most serious alarm in districts which, a fortnight ago,
were thought to be exempt froth it.' The greatest panic
prevails at present. The ravages committed in a single
week, nay, a single day, are surprising. The only theme
which occupied ..the different prsons t :it came to our
market on Tuesday last was the fe.irful stab. nf the potato
crop. I know one gentleman who purchased tier his men a ton
of oatmeal to have ready as a substitute. -lie d clan- d tip
me it was pitiful to see the poor people. actually crying about
their crop—their all. The gentleman I conversed with is ,ht
ati extensive farmer, but he is a philanthropist, and anxious
as much as possible to avert the effects likely to occur to

* This plan, it appears, was Immediately adopted by the Portu-
guese Governor of the Island of Buena 'Vista
t The results of the late titger ,xpedition were, that out of 145
whites, 130 were attacked with fever, and 40 died; or 1 in 3-25 of
the attac:;ed. Only 15 lemons escaped the fever; but some of them
afterwards so fr,red from disorder), which were probably brought on
by the voyage. In a second. attempt to ascend the liver by one
steamer, out of S whi:e persons 7 were attacked, and 2 died. It is
remarkable as an mdieation of an acclamatising influence, that out
of 158 blacks, only 11 were attacked with fever, and not one died.
It s.e.eins also that the blacks, or Kroomen, in the case of the Eclair,
have entirely escaped the fever. - .