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

THE POTATO DISEASE.

Diustrx, Ocr. 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 whera 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 manifestthat 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 fine 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 from 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 persons Vat came to our
market on Tuesday last was the fearful state of the potato
crop. I know one gentleman who purchased for his men a ton
of oatmeal to have ready as a substitute. He declared to
me it was pitiful to see the poor people actually crying about
their crop—their all. The gentleman I conversed with is not
an extensive farmer, but he is a philanthropist, and anxious
as much as possible to avert the effects likely to occur to
those dependent on him from the fatal malady. I have been
told of some other generous individuals who have desired
their tenants to dig all the potatoes fit for use and to take
them off the land without any charge. Now this is cer-
tainly very praiseworthy and laudable ; but if the
malady proceeds at the rapid pace it has during
the last two weeks, something more than indivi-
dual benevolence must be interposed between the
poor and that destitution which must inevitably result
from it. The aggregate benevolence of the country will have
an ample field unfortunately to work on. In the county of
Meath it was said the crop was quite safe a short time ago ; I
have the fact from unquestionable authority, that the crop is
bad there as elsewhere. The progress of the malady is cal-
culated to create the most serious alarm, and as an addition
to the mischief, I am sorry to have to state that a great deal
of corn, of different kinds, is still out in the fields in stook,
and, owing to the heavy rain, is in a very precarious state.
In some late districts there is still a good deal of oats uncut.
If the weather does not take up shortly, I much fear that the
potato crop is not the only loss we shall have to deplore, as
I fear a great'deal;of grain in the fields is much injured."
GALWAY, Ocr. 11.—We have made particular inquiries
throughout this county as to the existence of the disease
known by the name of potato cholera, and we are happy to
inform the public that there is no reason to apprehend
danger in this quarter. The crops present a healthy appear-
ance, and the produce is most abundant. Owing, however,
to an apprehension of a failure elsewhere the prices are
rather high for this season, with a tendency to advance. But
there is not the slightest reason to dread a short supply in
this neighbourhood.
BELFAST, Ocr. 11.—The weather continues wet, and un-
favourable for securing the remnant of the harvest, and par-
ticularly unfavourable for the raising of the potato crop. From
all we can learn, this crop is as defective as the reports have
represented, and it cannot be denied that the rot is general
in this part of the country.
[Another Belfast account, of the same date, states that the
grain crop is generally secured, and will prove abundant.
But it is admitted that the reports of the grain crop are very
unfavourable—that there are large quantities of tainted
potatos at Belfast market; but still it is supposed the ac-
counts of the disease are greatly exaggerated.]
Dovvx AND ANTRINL—There is now no doubt but that both
in the county Down and county Antrim the disease has
*road to a serious, though not an aliariniag extent. At