Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1845-12-31
from the Nat Inteheencer.
THE POTATO CROP IN IRELAND

There striking article upon this subject Tas
Edinburgh Magazine" for December. which evidently
written by one well acquainted with the subject. 1t
thought that summary OF contents may be acceptable
10 readers.
appears from this winter that the reports of commission
ers magistrates, and the Join the fearful
ton that 1.-The food Of the people OF ireland is melting away
with fearful rapciy that the potato disease still advances
from bad 10 worse, speeding its districts which
were long thought TO be exempt from il, renewing
uence in others where supposed have exhausted
ITSELF and, like other scourges laying the chief weight
lis severity wherever appears upon the hopes and the
support of the poor"
about three weeks OF dry sunny weather. with high
bacing winds from the middle Of October the 5h OF No
venher mad revived the spirits OF the people and aroused
their energies" Many potatoes were during that time re-
moved from the earth, sorted dried, and secured The
seene committee, appointed about that period by the
Lod lieutenant recommended (mcst unfortunately that
the digging OF the should be suspended during the fine
weather. and numbers have lament their
oihe advice Potatoes that time sound. became
ieeed in the drills and ridges before the breaking
Of the hne weather whilst the cold soaking which
followed Increased the VI disease formula
BILE extent. A more unlucky i'll timed document
never issoed from the hands Of learned experimental
ists."
IL appears that there very distinctive varieties
OF tho potato cultivated in Ireland one caed the Jumper
potato" IL grown by the poor for their use is of
moFe soft and wOery than the other variety
and more susceptible OF the the FIRST instance and
more liable To Its rapid diffusion. "a very short time
sutces after the appearance of the first dark spot
der every part OF unfit tor food"
The gentlemen and su5s;aniiai farmers who cultivate
hrmGr description OF potato than the Jumper aud who pos
and houses for storing them have
been enabled to secure good portion OF their crops But
tue coateniS OF the pits lot the poor mani becoming
worse aud worse every DAY They all turning black
with the almossvery instance to inq
about the condition Of the pued Jumper"
II Is not generally known that the potato crop this year
10 Ireland Twas the most abundant within the memo
Of IL exceeded the usual average BY nearly thirty
per The loss up this date middle OF Novenber
has brought down the actual supply applicable the
1 q. k.I-, 81,
fortnight beginning # December) II will be probably
twenty per below that Standard and unless cessa
ton Of the plague takes place. s avages will on, and
leave the millions, whose staff OF life the potato, utterly
destitute Of a morse food Some calculations fix the
term at which SO frishuu prvaion happen near
as the beginning Of s nsp The sanguine OPP
mists scarcely promise that be deferred
beyond the first of May"
"Yet the price Of potatoes still remarkably low and all
the markets gluttered with them. To throw passing
glance at them as they lie exposed for sale in the streets
you would that they in the finest possible cond.
ton, white ard clean, ard glossy and large But the dark
sp It's amongst them the towns people have learned
experience, that 1t IL hazardous lay IN even weeks
store aud they buy only from hand mouth. This makes
them cheap, aud will keep down the price until the supply
shall be nearly exhausted"
The farmers being tumble dispose Of their 1tatoes
have adopted another method Of turning them advantage
they purchasing pigs the food whist any por.
ton remains unconuped and great is the conpe.
tton for these animals that their price has materially
advanced Thus, independent Of disease n rapid
and unusual consumption is going on diminishing the
"But what the poor Irish dot The farmers with
their corn-ssnds well laden with oats and wheat IN
ian position such question with their landlords
But the ragged aborink se'he disowned' Of socin
system, in whom proprietor claims share, scknow-
ege an inierestwhom the owner Of the fee shoves
upon the middle and the pidde-man again upon hi.
paoper underenants, what Is TO become of hint There
are hundreds OF thousands Of thu, circumstanced
'rhUs OF families, for whose support ey willing 10 wo
u they drop, but unable lO find employment diy in
fifty through the whole winter arouad and what are they
do yuh mi thew 10 In he thrma
the peasants are already beginning to speak out upon
| this point Wherever we get IT, they say, will mol
want IT, They point significantly 10 the fOcks Of sheer
and tie herds Of cattle which rsmble the green fields
have heard this resolution expressed by several Of them
| and who blame theml Nay, who or what could with
stand them II unhsppy they should be driven eS-
temity o rising in their might carry their eolnses
desperation into effeci1"
"Tbese people then mus, be fed. For rnreo montny
least either food must be distributed among them employ
found such terms Of remuneration that they shl
be enabled buy food themselves. There Is abundanc,
Of corn and pork IN the country At present to supply oil
their rcceses and oil that they ask, oil that they pray for
b. be allowed TO sutciegcy OF one or both 70 sup
port them against toe heavy visitation which has fallen upor
their customary provcndor'
The writer recommends. o. means Of furnishing thi
Necessary employment, That oil the sound, Practicable
really useful railway projects be immediately begun and
that their being should be condition annexed 10 iht
Parliamentary authority for their execution lie suggest
addition that Government should undertake works Of
public Ireland, such the drainage Of rivers, b.
which large Of land perfectly useless might b.
rendered productive The retaining Of bogs, the
strucon Of roads, &c. By the JOINT concurrence Of suol
mesns Of relief employment might be Ryen, IL - said, Il
three hundred thousand men, at outlay Of Ltlo
Than million sefirg, the whole q which might be
cured 10 b. returned 10 the pubic treasury There ar
probably th1n xix hundred 'housan1 abores 70 b
taken Of in his iJfmidab.o emergency. But II one
h6I be removed from the field Of competition, those who
remain home will he Z, hId employment equa
terms their door for the landlords will ant ihei
fefyces and by of the scarcity u men, must pay
advance price for them" Thus employment may be n
iOrJed during tho trying period Of the year 10 sdc
number Of the psuper population as, with their families
b will amount % three millions.
The article thus closes: 'Ths question 81 opening tb
pors however, though bearing ih7s closely upon mat
the present and the approaching distress in Ielsnd leov
others discuss. Enough for the cent, III have show
that sBch dsfoss is imminent snd that without acve
extraordinary ,o Itieye il, lie oonsgquonces moy b
= tremendous"
tHEsTHgFIgID RAIL ROAD co The oeEbodsrs OF rhi
= -, a., Al,