Litchfield enquirer. [volume] (Litchfield, Conn.) 1829-current, 1846-09-24
THE POTATOE BLIGHT.
Letter from Prof. SeJswick, Cambridge.
England.

| FOR THE ENQUIRER.
Mr.. KIlbourn-Much is said about the de
struction of the potatoe Drop by very preva-
lent malady, which ceetas 10 have cut of the
hope of The farmer in respect TO that very use
full vegetable. In this land of plenty. we, IF
course, entertain 40 approximations Of star2a-
ton, or distress Of any kind on account of the
failure Of this crop but there are paris of the
world where the potatoc would involve the de-
struction of the lives Of millions. Such is the
case in Ireland. The approximations which
were entertained last year in regard to the fail
ure Of the crop in that country We're of the
most serious character, and scientific men set
their wits to devise some remedy. The follow
ing letter from learned gentleman in Eng
LAND shows what ingenious expedients are re-
sorted to, to avert starvation from the poor
millions Of Ireland.
Eriract If a letter fran he Req Adam
Sedg,Uick, Professor IF Geology, Trinity
College, Cambridge, to a friend in this
COunty-dated Oct 81, 1915:
All our crops are light and bad and the po-
tatoe crops have suffered by kind of vegetable
pestilence. and we are looking forward with
fear and trembling to the consequences, espec-
tally in Ireland. Ii is, however, now generally
known that the starch will often remain unaf.
fecttd after the cellular tissue of the bulb las
become black and putresceut; and good nu-
trlment may be TINS extracted from Mass BY
itself unfit for the food of man or beast. Our
Professor of Botany only a few DAYS since,
'uhd great part of the crop of farmer thrown
away to be tramplcd TO manure in the barn
yard. He asked him to collect the half-roten
mass, and he employed some poor neighbors in
Gibbling it into pulp through a common
kitchen crater This done, he stirred up the
black pull in tubs Of water, and then passed
the contents several times through a fine
scive "a piece of linen cloth will answer if
a fine seive be not at handy till the watery fluid
passed through pretty clear twas then put
in proper vessels, and IN about a quarter of an
hour the starch had subsidized into fine white
cake at the bottom Of each vessel, when the
water was poured off. 1t was dried, (some of
it after the first subsidence and other parts
were washed over and again preciritatcd) and
was found perfectly good and 6t for use; and
his own family are now using it as their daily
lood l dare sayyou are aware that If a small
quantity of the dried starch lie rubbed in cold
water till it makes fluid of the consistence of
cream, and boiling hot water be added while
the mass is stirred briskly with spoon, the
whole mass is almost instantaneously convert
ed into fine jelly, which. with little seas
"ning. or with nothing but common salt, is an
excellent and Wholesome food. The poor la
borers and the farmers were in utter astonish.
ment and thought our Professor downright
conjuror.
hear you have suffered by this vegetable
malady in America, and I dare say you are |
well acquainted with this mode of treating the
decomposing root As for myself was be-
hind tile world in information, and almost as
astonisAed as the old farmer.
Sunday IN Ne,c HdUen The Mayor of New
Haven. on Sunday last. with few special con-
stables, made tour of the city, and found thirty
five shops, from the lowest groggeries, TO the
most respectable stores. open for the transaction
of business. He directed them to be closed |
forthwith. and his orders were complied with |
in all cases, in most of them chserfHHy. 1t is |
his purpose to prevent the opeRing If grog shops,
segar shops and soda shops on Sundays in future,
and some of the BARRIERS ofih city have request
ed him to extend his prohibition to them.
Courier.
Oo-How will your county 90 this year; asked
Jealous politician of Philadelphia Of an honest
locofoco citizen Of Bucks county, {" Veil. I
can't tell much does not know" replied the
honest old Dutchman, I" de man what tells US
IN 10 hA~