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

alto crop there does not exist the slightest doubt that
he disease which proved destructive last year
again made its appearance in the present season
he diversity in the opinions expressed arises no doubt
many cases from the different modes in which the
of the plant has been conducted; for In AL
in which the disease discovered in its
earlier stages the external and general appearance OF
healthy plant Already In our own experience several
instances have occurred In which parties resident in f
lerent parts Of the kingdom who within the last ten
days. wrote that the most promising and alto.
gether free OF symptom Of disease have since in
formed that it has made its appearance in precisely
he same form as last Aud in some
the disease had only been discovered in its earlier stage
we informed, that where the stalks in
BLOSSOM and appeared most healthy six days ago, they
are now so black and rotten as to break OH with the
slightest touch" In another instance where cores
pendent in the west of England able and experienced
agrcuturist having the management Of extensive es-
tates only last week pronounced the crop far
fecty sound and healthy already specimens,
ofthe unmstakeable kind of the disease which
since broken out in the neghborhood Our correspon-
dence with Scotland the north and south of Ireland and
different parts of England especially the west and north
west leaves no longer In the slightest doubt that the
same disease has already made all those
districts In most too, it has now attacked the
early potatoe, which, last year. escaped compare |
lively uniDjured, and, in ls45, entirely There
is, therefore, but conclusion fear, that
can be fairly arrived at-that the disease which
destroyed the crop last year has again appeared,
period and that there is every to apprehend
similar destruction of the crop in proportion to the
tent to which it is planted We take 1t certain, too
that the disease has not assumed mder form, that
1t is likely to be partial has been suggested from
the fact Gifts making its appearance at an earlier period
Looking to the experience Of other countries and OF the
last two in this country the early appearance OF
the disease may be taken evidence of its increased
vruence. When the disease becomes weaker, the
strength Of the plant is able longer to resist its inu
ence. This was found to be the case In Belgium last
year, where it was in great measure eradcated and
where trace Of it discovered till ut least two
months after fields blackened with the rot :"
Nor do we place much confidence in atmospheric inu-
ences. Whether the is a little wetter little
dryer, do not believe will make any perceptibe diff
ference In the reports OF the Commissioners Of Patents
nfaht in rafara tn
this disease, which prevailed vruently and extern
svely for three years throughout the Union they par
ticulary remark their inability to ascribe 1t to any
tculsr state of the atmosphere for while in parts
of the country, where there had been rain than
that in Others where the had been particularly
dry the disease had been equally prevalent The APP
of the disease at so early period and in some
cases. already in decided form, Is the best evidence
that, as yet it has lost none Of its virulence.
The time therefore, appears to have arrived, when 1t
becomes necessary to consider what will be the probable
effects of failure of the potato crop corresponding
extent as last year. In the frst place. however, We
would allude to very valuable precaution which be-
ing extensively adopted in parts of the north of
Ireland which may farmers from much loss where
the failure Of the crop out complete 1t
was found by experience last year that after the leaves
and stalks of the plant wthered the root ceased to
but also found that the potatoes the
kept better than those which dug These facts
have suggested simple precaution, which, we thinkp
cannot be too extensively practised 1t sto drop at
plant that in the of the disease appearing and
the stems and Of the potato whitening and decay
until the usual time and fair crop turnips may be
in the interim, without exhausting the soil
than if the potatoes had grown to their usual Size This
practice glad to hea-, Is already being adopted
extensively in the north Of Ireland
There are, however, many reasons which render a
failure OF the growing potato matter OF infinitely
less consequence than in the two last and primer
pay the fact that the quantity planted is much less
than in former seasons The new distribution OF the
cultivation of the soil Of the United Kingdom, which
has taken place consequence of the existence Of the
potato disease and the effects which that change
nece "
under circumstances would be questions OF the ut
most ut the present time whether potato
crop promised abundance the contrary. But this
question, which in itself consider OF the greatest
Importance looking to the food prospects Of the country
derives additional Importance from the prospect Of
failure OF the small portion OF potatoes which are
planted. 49,
the potato disease, and its effects upon the distribution
of the cultivation Of the SOIL but to which little atten
ton has hitherto been given the comparative numb rs
that can be supported upon given surface planted
with potatoes and any other crop whatever that
be substituted in its place Socially, politically and
commercially this question involves at the present
ment the greatest most important considerations
According to Arthur Young the average produce of
acre of potatoes Ireland Is 81 barrels which, at %
stones O the barrel. - 900 h. little than ten
tons Mr. Mo ulloch, in his recent excellent work,
Descriptye and Statistical Account of the British En-
pre states the produce varies from eight to twelve
tons to the DR.. Kane, In his admirable DOCK on
the Industrial Resources Of Ireland states the lowest
estimate be nine to the and several private
accounts which collected from Ireland, agree
that fair somewhat low estimate would be 80 bar
The estimates to the comparative number Of per-
be sustained OF potatoes and
an acre OF wheat vary aooorang 70 daer
being equal to six OF wheat and Others placing 1t
low of the former to two OF the latter From
careful investigation of the subject believe the truth
lies between these extreme estimates and that
average potatoes capable of feeding at the lowest
estimate az many persons as three acres OF wheat.
Arthur Young estimates that ID. Of wheat is equal,
In nutritiye quality, to lbs Of potatoes Mr.. Newen
ham to whose Investigation great weight is attached
STATE int q OF potatoes
tritive matter as ID. OF wheat; and MIR. McCulloch
adopts the medium of these calculations in which we
believe he is the truth possible, for find
that the result of succession OF experiments conduct
ed in the United States by Messrs Berry and Herring
with the greatest and precision and officially
muncated to Congress in TIE valuable report Of the
Commissioner OF Patents establishes the fact that the
is three pounds of the former to twelve ounces of the
latter, four pounds to one pound IT. then, we
take the produce Of even as high as three
and half the and that OF potatoes at
only nine tons to the acre. shall have the following
comparison NJ
acre of potatoes produces tons or. .2O,leO lbs
acre of wheat produces 81 qrs, at 80 lbs
to the bushel, will give. 1850 lbs.
But as h. of wheat is equivalent for nourshment to
lbs Of potatoes, the lbs OF potatoes produced
on one acre will be equivalent only to 5,O40 lbs. OF
wheat therefore as one acre Of wheat produces $50
lbs Of food and of potatoes 6OlO lbs OF food
Of the same intrinsic nourshment it follows that
one of land planted with POTATOES will support as
many persons as three acres planted with wheat
We have not the same exact data for calculating the
relative nourishment wnc All oa.s poats 70 one
of potatoes But admitting, even that oats produce
or 81 bushels to the acre. and that they weigh
40 lbs to the bushe each would give 1900 lbs But
Ii lbs Of oats yield ory about lbs OF meal OF which
Id considered in Ireland being equal to about lbs
of potatoes which consider extreme estimator but
let us takei It, Then,
One acre Of oats "a bushels to the acre and 40 lbs to
the bnshe will give 500 lbs Of oats In the proper
ton of lbs OF meal to Ia lbs Of oats 645 lbs OF meal
Then,
One pound Of oatmeal is equivalent in nourshng quail
tiles to lbs Of potatoes consequently l6a5 los OF oat
meal the produce Of equal to 9sS' los Oh pc
tstoes But produces 20 100 lbs OF
follows that acre of land, cultivated with potatoes
will support many persons four acres cultivated
with oats. ,,-,.,.
These calculations would therefore, establish the iac
that in order support population on gram VINO
hitherto lived upon potatoes or TO wnatever sc
latter crop In abandoned, the surface OF cutyation
should be increased the proportion Of at least three
acres of grain every of potatoes so gwen up Inc
suneror mower of the TO sustain life has we be-
eye been very overlooked In considering the ques
tons the physical economy Of the country