Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1845-12-27
THE POTATO CROP IN IRELAND.

There is very striking article upon this subject
in Tait's Edinburgh Magazine" for December,
which is evidently written by one well acquainted
with the subject II is thought that summary OF
its contents may be acceptable to our readers.
It appears from this writer that the reports of commission
er magistrates and the press join in the fearful enumeration
that the food Of the people Of Ireland is melting away with
fearful apdi that the potato disease still advances from
bad to worse, speeding its in districts which We're
long thought TO be exempt from it. renewing its vrulence IN
Others where it supposed have exhausted ITSELF and
like other scourge laying the chief weight Of its severity
wherever appears upon the hopes and the support Of the
poor"
About three weeks Of dry sunny weather. with high
bracing windsfom the middle of October the 5th Of No
vembe had revived the spirits of the people and aroused
their energies Many potatoes during that time re-
moved from the earh sorted, dried and secured The SCI
ec committee, appointed about that period by the Lord
Lieutenant recommended (most unfortunately that the Dig
gng of the cp should be suspended during the fine weather.
and numbers have to lament their attention to the adj
vice. Potatoes, at that time sound became infected in the
drills and ridges before the breaking up Of the fine
weather. whilst the cold soaking rains which followed in
creased progress of the disease formidable extent
more unlucky l-timed document never issued
from the hands of any learned erpermentalists."
Il appears that there very distinctive varieties of the
potato cultivated in Ireland one, called the Jumper poa
to" is grown by the poor for their is Of more
soft and waery conence than the other variety and more
susceptible Of the in the first instance and more liable TO
rapid diffusion very short time sufces, after the
pearance the dark spot render every part OF it.
unfit for food"
The gentlemen and substantial farmers, who cultivate a
me description Of potato than the Jumper and who possess
and houses for storing hem have been
abled good portion of their crops But the con-
IL and
worse every day They all turning black with u.s. is
the in almost every instance to inquiries about
! the condition of the pitted Jumper"
1t is generally known that the potato crop this year in
Ireland the most abundant within the memory Of
1t exceeded the usual average by nearly thirty per
cent The up this date (mddle of November has
brought down the actual supply applicable to the
cesses of below that of ordinary years In another
fortnight (begnnng Of December will be probably TWEEN
per below that standard and unless cessation OF
the plague takes place. its will and leave the
millions, whose staff of life is the potato, utterly destitute
Of morsel of food Some calculations fix the term at
which fightfu privaton must happen as the
beginning Of the year. The most sanguine opmss
scarcely venture promise that be deferred beyond
4 { the first of May"
Yet the price Of potatoes is still remarkably low and
all the markets gluted with them. To throw passing
glance them they lie exposed for sale in the Streets
you would say that they in the finest possible
dion, white and cean and glossy and large. But the
dark spot amongst them the ownspeope have earned
from experience, that it is hazardous to lay weeks
store, and they buy only from hand to mouth This makes
them cheap, and will keep down the price until the supply
shall be nearly exhausted"
The farmers being unable dispose of their potatoes have
adopted another method of turning them TO advantage they
purchasing to eat the food whilst any portion of
remains interrupted and great is the competition for
these animals that their price has materially advanced
Thus independent of disease most rapid and unusual
sumption going diminishing the quantity OF wholesome
But whs. are the poor Irish do The farmers, with
their stands well laden with oats and wheat in
fair position argue such question with their landlords
But the ragged abong se-t the disowned of socia
SYSTEM in whom proprietor claims SHARE acknow
leges nteestwhom the of the fee shoves
the MIDDLE and the iddlssman again upon his
pauper under-tenans what is to become Of him. There
hundreds Of thousands of thus crcumstanced,
fathers Of families, for whose support they willing work
till they drop, but unable find employment day in
fifty through the whole winter round and what they
to do now Alas what they do to help themselves
"The peasants already beginning speak out upon
this point Wherever get it, they say, we will not
it, They point significantly to the ocks Of sheep and
the herds of cattle which rambe the green fields.
have heard this resolution expressed by several Of Them and
who can blame them Nay, who what could withstand
them if unhappily they should be driven the extremity
Of rising in their might to carry their counse of despera
ton into effect I"
"These people, them must BE- fed For three months at
either food distributed among them or employ
sment found such of remuneration that they shall
be enabled buy food for themselves There abundance
of and pork in the country present supply all their
necessities and all that they ask, all that they pray for
to be allowed to sufciency of both support
them against the heavy visitation which has fallen upon their
customary provender.
The writer recommends, means Of furnishing this
necessary employment that all the sound, practicable and
really useful railway projects be Immediately begun and that
their being should be condition annexed to the Psrla-
mentary authority for their execution He suggests in add
that Government should undertake works Of public
in Ireland such the drainage of rivers by which large
tracts of land perfectly useless might be rendered produc
tive. The retaining Of bog the construction OF roads, &c
BY the joint of such of relief employment
might be given, il is Sad TO three hundred thousand men,
outlay of little than million sterling, the whole of
which might be secured be returned the public rea
suy There probably than six hundred thousand
aborers to be taken Of in this formidable emergency
" But removed from the field OF competition those
who remain home will be find employment on
their services and by of the scarcity men, must
pay advanced price for them" Thus employment may
be afforded during the trying period Of the year such
number of the pauper population as with their families
will amount to three millions.
The article thus closes The question of opening the
pos however though bearing thus closely upon that
present and the approaching distress Ireland leave others
TO discuss Enough for the present, il have shown that
such distress is imminent and that without active and extra
ordinary efforts relieve it. its consequences may ire
mendous
NIAGARA SUSPENSION BRIDeE.-A writer in Rochester
paper Mr. FISK, conradcs the report that the British Board
of Ordnance have reported against the project Of bridge
the Niagara river He says the subject ably dis