0. 5. TJie Potatoe Blight. — Ag. Soc. of Prince George Co., Md. 



155 



The Potatoe Blight. 



A WRITER in the Globe estimates the 

 lue ot' the potntoc crop in the United 

 ngdom at i;)23,000,000, and sets down the 

 !S to Ireland, in conseqnence of last year's 

 lure, at £10,000,000. The Cork Reporter 

 Iculates that out of 130,880 acres planted 

 th potatoes in that country, 100,666 are 

 •eady blighted and destroyed. 

 No means exist of testing the accuracy 



these calculations, but the mere flict of 

 ch enormous estimates being made, is 

 fficiently expressive of the gravity of the 

 estion. It shows, conclusively, that un- 

 r the most favourable point of view, the 

 struction of food must have taken place 

 a most alarming extent, especially when 

 is borne in mind that similar losses were 

 stained in all the great potatoe countries 

 both hemispheres. 



The disease was introduced into Genoa in 

 45, with English potatoes, and we know 

 ) well how fast it spreads ; besides which, 

 : see from the French papers tliat in the 

 partment of the Var the potatoes, although 

 t much diseased in the fields, were rotting 

 jidly as soon as they were stored — July 

 th — that the crops raised from northern 

 id have enjoyed no immunity; and that 

 i coast line — we presume from Toulon to 

 aguignan — is now infected, as well as 

 3 hilly districts. 



The farmers in the territory of Nice were 

 eady, on the 11th of July, pulling up their 

 tatoes, in order to save them from the 

 irrain, which had attacked their second 

 Dp. We may add, that since the Neapoli- 

 1 potatoes planted in England, have proved 

 be as diseased as our own, there is reason 

 fear that no supplies can be had from Na- 

 3S this year. Add to this that the mischief 

 s reappeared in Germany, that wheat is 

 tually dearer in Holland at the present 

 iment than in England, and we have as 

 •ly a symptom of impending scarcity as 

 e amateur of high prices can well desire, 

 ^fortunately, too, this is but a portion of the 

 ;ture. Wheat is a solitary article of 

 undance. Turnips are but half a crop; 

 3 same is true of other roots, and of beans 

 d peas ; barley is short and oats not heavy, 

 id where is our fruit? the apples, and 

 ars, and plums of tlie cottagers and small 

 •mers; they, too, have failed! Even in 

 s isle of Jersey there is not more than 

 o-thirds of the usual quantity, and Jersey 

 a favourable example. All these things 

 Q articles of food, either directly or indi- 

 ctly. We consume them in the form of 

 3at, if not of bread, and their places must 



supplied, or the consumers must be put 



on short allowance. The labourer who 

 feeds his children with apples gives them 

 food, not luxuries; they stand in place of 

 something else, and must, therefore be re- 

 placed. In the present instance it appears 

 impossible to do so, except with corn. The 

 continent seems but little capable of assist- 

 ing us in the article of grain ; it will have 

 enough to do to feed its own population. 



In fact, we understand that wheat is actu- 

 ally exported to Antwerp at the present mo- 

 ment, and we must remember that the great 

 continental harvest is gathered in. Mean- 

 while, in the course of last week, rice and 

 oats have advanced in price from Is. to Is. 

 6d. ; wheat, 4s. or 5s. a quarter ; flour. Is. 

 6(1. a barrel, and meat of course is partak- 

 ing of the dearness. — Daily News. 



In the speech of the Queen, read by the 

 Lord Chancellor at the prorogueing of Par- 

 liament, on the 28th of eighth month last, 

 she says : 



" Her Majesty has to lament that a recur- 

 rence of a failure in the potatoe crop, in an 

 aggravated degree, will cause a serious defi- 

 ciency in the quantity of a material article 

 of food. 



"Her Majesty has given her cordial as- 

 sent to measures by which this calamity 

 may be mitigated in that part of the United 

 Kingdom where the cultivation of the po- 

 tatoe has hitherto afforded the chief supply 

 for the subsistence of the people." 



This is conclusive proof that the disease is of a very 

 grave character. — Ed. 



Agricultural Society of Prince George 

 County, 3Id. 



We have received through a friend the proceedings 

 of this Society, containing an Address by John H. 

 Bayne, from which the following extract is made. Our 

 friend A. C. gave some account of the .\nnual Exhibi- 

 tion in our last number, page 131.— Ed. 



In no occupation can a healthful activity 

 of the mind and body be more happily 

 blended than in the pursuit of horticulture. 

 Its manual operations are so promotive of 

 health that the professional man, and even 

 sedentary females, may devote advantage- 

 ously a portion of their time to it in each 

 day. The perfect order and beautiful ar- 

 rangement in the vegetable kingdom are 

 calculated to inculcate the lessons of love, 

 kindness and philanthropy. 



As a scientific pursuit, it strongly recom- 

 mends itself to the contemplative inquirer. 

 Whether we regard it as an art or science, 

 administering substantially to our wants, or 

 difl^using useful knowledge, it merits our 

 highest consideration. 



