THE THREATENED FAMINE IN IRELAND.

Timaru Herald, Volume LI, Issue 4969, 18 October 1890, Page 3

THE THREATENED FAMINE IN IRELAND.

» ALARMING OFFICIAL EEPOET.

The report of the Irish Land Commission on the condition and projects of the oropa m Ireland issued on August 20th, establishes the faot that the Inclement weather of this summer season has resulted m the appearanoe of the potato blight almost universally over the unfortunate island. The blight, first seen m the poorer lands on the coast extending from Donegal westward to Wezford, has spread with such rapidity that the entire potato orop ia affected to a greater or lest extent with the disease. Id most cases it is' found that aj yet the leaves and stalks only have been blighted, leaving the tubers for the moat part unsffeoted, to that there is roason to believe that a period of dry woather and continuous sunshine would be the means of saving the orop and producing an average yield of potato oa. A continuance of wet and the absence of sunshine is oertain to produce a farther decay of the stalks and to produce a return of soft, watery, unmatured and ionutritious tubers. Even if these can be utilised to the provision of feeding for pigs, the result must inevitably be a crop inadequate for the re* quiremonti of tho human consumers. Through-

out Ulster the diseaie is vory prevalent, and as regards the late planted varieties, it set m at such an early stago us wholly to oheok the growth. In Kust Uavan, though up to the date of the report tho stalks only were affeoted, it was very general, and tho crop decidedly below the average In every part of Donegal, it had made its appearance, and was specially bad on the maorj, wet, and worn soils, though at the time the tubers had esoaped attack. In Down, wh«ra potatoes are grown for sale as well as for local oonsumption, the atnlkß ere affected, and unless the weather changes the produce will probably be soft and inefficient. In Fermanagh and Tyrone it h» s appeared generally on the stalks and leaves, but m exceptional oases and on tho worst lands has reaohed the tubers. Londonderry m whioh the orop had been planted aarly and was well grown bofore the disease appeared, it the sole exception to the dreary prospect, bat even here the anticipated yield is pronounoed doubtful unless a deoided improvement takes place m the weather. In Clare atid Cort. where tho whole produce is retained for local i.ao, it is universal, and on the wet and light mountain lands tubers as well as stalks are very seriously affected. Of Skibbereen and its neighbourhood, which suffered so severely m the previous failure of ISIS, it is reported to be very general m all classes of land, and the fields are covered with withered stalks and tuborj already rotting. On the inferior lands and the patohe* on the coast, upon tho produce of whic'i the peasantry almost entirely depend, the crop is now declared an absolute failure. In Eerry, Limerick, and Tipperary the same conditions prevail ; "stalks everywhere, seriously affected, with the certainty that unless fine and maturing weather ensues the tubers must equally auccumb. All over Waterford it has appeared, being most seriously developed on the cold, wet lands and on the lines of the sea-coast, which present a worse appearance, than the fields inland. Throughout Leinstor, with iho exception of the district immediately adjoining Dublin, the disease has secured a firm hold, and, as m other parts, is most apparent m hilly districts and poor cold soils. In Curlow and Longford tho stalks nre everywhere withered and smitten, while m Eing'e County und Menth tho disease 13 spreading freely among the tubers. In Westmeath, where until quite recently the prospect was promising, the leaves show signs of disease, though at present the stalks are comparatively free. The relative immunity of the Dublin district is duo to the exceptional care taken m cultivation, but even hero tho disease is manifesting itself m the stalks of the lato varieties. In Queen's County, m the low-lying plots, it is worsn, while m Wexford I and Wioklow it is so general and pronounced that almost universally growth has ceased, and the best that can be hoped for is a yiold of small and unmatnred tubers. In Galway and Leitrim, the blight is very general, being specially visible m tho early varieties, and on the poorer lands the tops are black and much spottod. In Mayo it appears worst ulong the sea-coast, where the potatoes planted m bog were much damaged by the spring, and hore the effect of the blight has been to almost destroy the orop. Owing to the early Btago m its growth that it attacked the plant the tubers will generally be absolutely unfit for human consumption, and m many districts the orop will be aoomplete failure. Jn Hoacommon whore, owing to the damage oouaed by the froßts m iho spring, (he disease eat m unusually early, it is said that the greatest proportion of the produce will be applicable only for the purpose of pig feeding. It is a relief to turn from the gloomy prospect presented by the potato crop, and to study the portion of the report m which the Commissioners express their opinion on the results of the cereal harvest. Oats whioh are the most important crop, are reported as very good. Tlis yield again largely depends on the amount of sunshine to be experienced, but on the whole it seems that the crop will be fully up to the average. Hay has been saved generally and with little damage, and the prospeot of autumn grass is everywhere very good.