The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1847-09-13

period that the potato has become great aud
article ofcommereen Scotland in Yorkshire and along
the south CO asst OF England In the Ala
trcts 1t has been changed from being mere garden va
getable to Of the chief of farmer While
this change has been going forward accordno IN the
calculations which have exhibited the Abolition OF
the potato in place Of gain, equivalent to convert
ng into three acres of surface Prastis,llv
the land under cultivation extended in propor
tion Of three ono by this simple change The sIten
food during the last thirty years is believe true
explanation Of the fact that this country continued to
average price for grain the restrictions
to which 1t was subjected by the corn laws.
But now comes the period Of difficulty. We have tho
increased population dependent upon this Cultivation
for support. similar change has been going forward
potato is as much relied upon as in this country
denly the potato has failed The abandonment OF ts
cultivation to great extent has become matter Oh or
forward during the last thirty years. suddenly takes
place now The extension Of the OF the po
to has gradually added to the efficiency of the soil to sus
tain populaon the proportion ofthree to The sud-
den Abandonment of the potato in great degree vrtu-
the same proportion. Whether the potato crop thls
year. be good bad, whether the disease exist not
great fact which influence the condition Of this
country in particular and Of Europe generally II the
extent to which the cultivation Of the potato Is sbsu-
doned
On this subject have made minute enquries-.
From these We have come to the following results
Throughout the North of Ireland quantity Of pota
toes planted In the present year rather under than
above fourth in parts of the SOUTH and south
east nearly third the usual quantity is planted
but in others 1t does not exceed onefth In the West,
including the land not cultivated at ALL the proportion
OF potatoes planted this does not reach
Of the usual quantity to down the whole of Ireland
at one-third Is full and extreme estimate In Scot
land in the extensive producing districts the
of the potato Is nearly entirely abandoned Many
large growers in Fifeshre Linthgowshre strngshire
and Perthshre who in ordinary cultivate 10 to 100
Of potatoes each have planted this year barely
fcen for the local consumption in most averaging
from to 30 in the immediate neighborhood Of
Dundee Glasgow and other large towns the proportion
is larger but taking the whole of Scotland II est
mate the surface planted ut oneth the usual quantity
shall at least not exaggerate the deficiency In Eng
land the pr portions much various. In some
neighborhoods informed that the cultivation
the present equals onehaf the usual
quantity in Others, third but generally, the pro-
portions vary from onefourth to onesixth II We
sumo onefourth the average believe shall bo
near the truth.
The next question to be considered then isWhat In
the usual extent Of land under potato cultivation In the
United Kingdom!
In the statistical Account Of the British Empirs'
MIR M Cuoch estimates the cultivation Of potatoes,
turnps and rape to extend 900 in Eng
land; and fcom inquiry considering the great number
of allotment gardens and Of small farms in the neighbour
hoods large towns estimate that the potato
pies at least Of the 1000 600 In the
work the cultivation potatoes in Scotland IL estmAted
at 200 900 and in Ireland at 1000 900 The
following table will therefore show the quantity Of land
usually cultivated in each Of the three Kingdoms the
portions in cultivation in the present year, and the
portions appropriated to other produce =