364 
‘In 1770 there was a potato failure, attributed to the 
curl, or disease in the leaves. 
“In 1779, Arthur Young informs us that in some of the 
northern counties the people sprinkled their potato land with 
lime, in order to prevent the black rot. 
‘* In 1784 I am led to believe that the intense frost injured 
the potato. Latterly, people seem to be aware of the delete- 
rious effects of frost, and denominate the potato so injured 
‘ spuggaun,’ from its softness. 
‘The year 1795 was one of unusual character, both in 
Europe and America: the weather here was uncommonly 
severe, the spring cold and late, the summer suffocatingly hot, 
damp, and rainy, while south winds were prevalent. There 
was a disease among vegetables, especially potatoes and cab- 
bages. 
“In 1800 there was a partial failure of the potato, owing 
to excessive drought ; the disease appeared in the stalks; the 
harvest generally was bad; great scarcity and distress suc- 
ceeded. The potato also failed in England, and for some years 
afterwards the curl injured many of the best varieties there. 
“©1801. A very general potato failure, attributed to ob- 
structed vegetation, while the sets were yet in the ground. 
«61807. The frost, which set in about November with un- 
usual severity, destroyed nearly one-half of the potato crop. 
«In 1809 the curl again injured the potatoes, though not 
to such an extent as to deserve the name of a failure. 
«¢ 1811. The spring and early summer of this year were ex- 
cessively wet; a partial failure of the potato crop occurred. 
«In 1812 some of the early planted potatoes failed. 
‘¢ In 1816 the spring was unusually backward, the summer 
and autumn also very late, and the whole year characterized 
by far more than the average amount of rain ; the potato again 
failed very generally throughout the kingdom. At this time 
the stalk was the part chiefly affected. The potato crop in 
England was also especially defective, which shows how wide- 
