Transcribed from the 2 July 1822 edition of The Strabane Morning Post, by permission of The British Library: Cause of the Famine in Ireland. The immediate cause of the periodical famines of Ireland, is the use of the potato as the staple article of food. A quantity of land will support a much greater number of persons on potatoes than on wheaten bread; and if the potato, in other respects, formed as good a staple article of bread as food, its supporting a greater population would be a decided advantage. But the potato, considered as the staple article of the food of the people, is, in all other respects, less eligible than bread. The potato crop is much more precarious than that of wheat; potatoes from their bulk, cannot be so easily transported, so as to equalize the supply of food throughout the several districts of the country, and, from their perishable nature, the superabundant supply of one season cannot be carried forward to meet the deficiencies of another. There is another most important particular in which the potato is considered as the staple article of food, is inferior to wheaten bread. When bread forms the main article of food, the customary wages of common labour will be regulated by the customary price of wheat, and when any deficiency in the supply of wheat occurs, the people can resort to some cheaper article as a temporary substitute. But when potatoes form the main article of food, and when, in consequence, the customary wages of labour are regulated by the customary price of potatoes, then, when a deficiency of crop occurs, there remains no cheaper substitute to supply their place. A people fed upon potatoes, live upon the verge of famine--they are absolutely without resource, and the occasional deficiencies in the seasons, which, were their customary subsistence more costly, would only deprive them of some of their comforts, now plunge them in all the miseries of want. By order of the Marquis of Wellesley, a circular has been distributed through the different counties of Ireland, addressed to intelligent and practicable men, and proposing a set of queries with a view to ascertain the probable extent of the potato crop of this season, as compared with that of the preceding years, and also to learn the latest period, at which potatoes may be safely planted, as well as the difference of produce between the early and late planting. This measure, among a multitude of others, demonstrates how minutely and sedulously his excellency revolves the best interests of the country, and the comfort of the population. ===================

Thanks for this, its very interesting. In my strange mode of thought, I believed the potato famine was a devastating one-off that occurred during the 1840s.... I know I'm showing my ignorance here but - Does anyone know if there were several potato famines? Did the crops fail regularly? What did they eat before the potato? Thanks again. Theresa -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Alison Kilpatrick Sent: 02 July 2008 09:02 To: [email protected] Subject: News extracts: July 2, 1822: Cause of the famine in Ireland Transcribed from the 2 July 1822 edition of The Strabane Morning Post, by permission of The British Library: Cause of the Famine in Ireland. The immediate cause of the periodical famines of Ireland, is the use of the potato as the staple article of food. A quantity of land will support a much greater number of persons on potatoes than on wheaten bread; and if the potato, in other respects, formed as good a staple article of bread as food, its supporting a greater population would be a decided advantage. But the potato, considered as the staple article of the food of the people, is, in all other respects, less eligible than bread. The potato crop is much more precarious than that of wheat; potatoes from their bulk, cannot be so easily transported, so as to equalize the supply of food throughout the several districts of the country, and, from their perishable nature, the superabundant supply of one season cannot be carried forward to meet the deficiencies of another. There is another most important particular in which the potato is considered as the staple article of food, is inferior to wheaten bread. When bread forms the main article of food, the customary wages of common labour will be regulated by the customary price of wheat, and when any deficiency in the supply of wheat occurs, the people can resort to some cheaper article as a temporary substitute. But when potatoes form the main article of food, and when, in consequence, the customary wages of labour are regulated by the customary price of potatoes, then, when a deficiency of crop occurs, there remains no cheaper substitute to supply their place. A people fed upon potatoes, live upon the verge of famine--they are absolutely without resource, and the occasional deficiencies in the seasons, which, were their customary subsistence more costly, would only deprive them of some of their comforts, now plunge them in all the miseries of want. By order of the Marquis of Wellesley, a circular has been distributed through the different counties of Ireland, addressed to intelligent and practicable men, and proposing a set of queries with a view to ascertain the probable extent of the potato crop of this season, as compared with that of the preceding years, and also to learn the latest period, at which potatoes may be safely planted, as well as the difference of produce between the early and late planting. This measure, among a multitude of others, demonstrates how minutely and sedulously his excellency revolves the best interests of the country, and the comfort of the population. =================== ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message

Alison Kilpatrick <[email protected]> wrote: : ... the potato, considered as the staple article of : the food of the people, is, in all other respects, less eligible than : bread. I seem to remember reading someplace once that a diet of nothing but potatoes and dairy products, assuming the skin of the tuber is also consumed, can provide all of the vitamins and minerals essential to the human diet. It's also been said that "Man does not live by bread alone." The periodic famines in Ireland were not caused by the failure of the potato crop, but by an economic system that made it the main part of the Irish diet. -dja

Dennis, My father always said potatoes, dairy, onions and Guinness provided them all! Nuala "Dennis Ahern" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:[email protected] > Alison Kilpatrick <[email protected]> wrote: > > : ... the potato, considered as the staple article of > : the food of the people, is, in all other respects, less eligible than > : bread. > > I seem to remember reading someplace once that a diet of nothing but > potatoes and dairy products, assuming the skin of the tuber is also > consumed, can provide all of the vitamins and minerals essential to the > human diet. It's also been said that "Man does not live by bread alone." > The periodic famines in Ireland were not caused by the failure of the > potato crop, but by an economic system that made it the main part of the > Irish diet. > > -dja >