The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1847-08-10


At night grand illumination closed the festivities
during which as report says, of the mercuriai
spirits held regular Publication
The Momentous Questions of the Times
Our Food Prospects.
From the London Economist June 26l
In whatever light look at the great interests ofhs
country at the present moment-whether to its social
welfare and progress-is political quiet its financial
commercial and industrial prosperty-the great and
overwhelming subject which absorbs all other consider
atoms is that connected with sufficient supply of food
Our remarks last week upon the distribution of the
cultivation Of the SOIL and the abandonment great
the disease in that plant must have convinced our read
ers, than considering the important question refer
ence to the future we have at least element Of
certainty not dependent upon the state of the weather
or upon the result Of the growing crops We have shown
that in place of 100000 of potatoes (the estma
ted usual growth of the country there not more
than cropped with that plant the produce
OF which, under the NEST favorable circumstances can
not be estimated at more than 900 tons while the
lowest estimate of the sound potatoes saved from the
fectve crop Of last 2000000 tons; thus show
ing deficiency under the most favorable Giro
Of 100000 tons But against this deficiency we have
39300O acres includng1 whatever part Of Ireland has
been lett uncutiyated planted with other crops, We
that land be cropped with grain but that the great
bulk must be occupied with green crops not available,
and that, moreover II 100000 of of wheat
100000 Of oats have been grown addition to
the quantity produced last year they would only be
equivalent Of the difference between a sound crop of
potatoes this year. and the defective crop of year
Irrespective therefore, of the result the growing
crops the most favorable view that We can at
take regards the prospects Of independent
supplies from own soil that they are as good as
year the goes on these prospects will be
aggravated In proportion the potato crop may prove
dseased-or ameliorated in some degree as the sprnr
grain crops, barley aud oats may prove abundant
than last year. Still the great factwhch affected
supply of food 80 much during the last wear and which
must again exert the most powerful influence during the
coming year-the absence OF the potato-is point fixed
We can easily imagine that, with the great bulk of
our readers, perusal of remarks last week the
abandonment Of the cultivation of thu potato was ac
companied with mixture of apprehension and satisac
tiV-of apprehension Mt the immediate consequence of
tue withdrawal of so much subsstenceof satisfaction
that the change might lead the people in future RELY
upon higher and less precarious food The effects or
the cultivation OF the potato upon population, and
upon The general condition of the working classes,
have not in our apprehension been yet sufficiently mi
nutey, fairly considered; and hesitate in
expressing opinion that much of the objection which
has been urged against the potato and especially
lation to ts effects upon Ireland has arisen from
confusion between cause and effect The time however
Is when this subject must be thoroughly examined
of the great social elements of Ireland whose
condition bids fair to occupy more of attention
during the next year than during the past Not that
would nsnuae that the internal misortunes Ire
land will be much greater but that the easy
which the legislature has adopted meeting the diff
Guilty during the past year, will not be possible during
While on the one hand it cannot be denied that the
cultivation Of the potato mas rendered possible the
ence OF degradation in Ireland to extent which
not have prevailed had bare subsistence been
cult to procure yet it will require much powerful
reasons to show that it would be national good dis
courage species OF cultivation, which, greatly be-
labor and the expenditure of the capital so much
larger portion Of good and nutritious food The argu.
ment against the cultivation of the potato II
would lead to doubt the benefit Of every
which secured greater abundance with less labor OF
every machine which lessened toll created cheapness
anu gave that command o leisure which is the founda
ton OF civilization. would be most dangerous doc
trne 10 admit that because tue Irsh have abused
valuable source of the economy II capital labor and
soil that therefore, such obvious blessings them
seves an evil There are great social aud political cons
derations bound up with thi1 question regards Ire
understood DeiO
We arrive Ut solution OF the fculties under which
that unhappy country a6or ana before we can hope to
gee that pOlcy pursued whch can aone redeem II from
It's present liberalization ana suherng But before we
go into these discussions more at isrgebefore we come
TO conclusion as TO the value OF the cultivation OF the
potato ana as To the Immediate elects which must be
experienced from us paitai apanuonnentiet us eN.
anime, WITH more care than mas hitherto been done
what has been the result Of the failure of the crop last
year mere are matters OF iact connected with The
state OF IRELAND ana with ,ns future prospects OF the
whole country IN these considerations deserving OF Sc
rious attehton anu "cn IL VIII DC wen that all should
understand whoi whether 1e as ministers or merchants
Proceeding upon the reasoning to which we have
ferred it is not unusual to hear the opinion that tie
potato failure has done good to Ireland, nasmuch II
has already given them habit OF using higher species
of food which they will depend in future But those
who thus do sufficiently bear in mind the
difference between the existence of a want and the
power of gratifying it, Ireland, " Ia true has been
supplied with higher and better diet during the past
year usual 1t has neither been furnished from
her soil nor by her industry Every grauary
in Europe, and every farm in the Western States OF
America have been swept of all surplus stock to contr
butte the possibility Of that act and more than ten
millions public money have flowed from the
| of the United Kingdom TO render it possible When
improved and more expensive habits follow the
raj consequence of greater industry and increased
wealth. they may be taken as test OF an advancing
state of society, but tits strange reversal Of all reason
inc and observation to draw similar Inference from
temporary and accidental indulgence higher taste
tic means of which contributed by act of public
charity stupendous be repeated Even the effect
newly acquired wants in eciting greater energy Of
character aud more unremttng habits of industry H.
| wei fear In "A case he
present by the demorzng and deprayng consequences
of reliance public charity IL H. Therefore benefit