APHSource: The Western Star 1st September 1849
The following excellent letter relating to our harvest prospects renders any observations from ourselves unnecessary regarding the crops: –
TO THE EDITOR OF THE WESTERN STAR
Dear Sir- knowing how much interested you are about the welfare of the country at Large I forward you a brief statement as regards the prospects of and advantages to be expected from the beautiful harvest that meets the eye wheresoever it turns. I have spent my life in farming, and I fearlessly assert that I have never witnessed a better harvest, generally speaking, that Providence has vouchsafed to us this year. The late crops of turnips that looked indifferently three weeks back are now looking remarkably well. The Potatoes, up to the present, most excellent in quality and quantity, though the blight has injured the stalk, little or no damage has occurred to the tubers until the last few day: however I cannot avoid stating that the disease has rapidly attacked the tubers within the last few days and I have most serious apprehension that the heavy rain now pouring in torrents will cause very serious damage to the potato crops in clay lands. But we have ample supply of provisions to fall back on, even in the event of loss being sustained from the bad effects of a wet afternoon. We ought therefore, to rejoice having an abundance of food within our view for the people and ample employment for the honest labourer and artisan on our Railway with wages paid regularly and honestly – no barrier. I say Sir, without fear of contradiction, that no country ever prospered whose labouring population were not justly and equitably paid the value of their time. We have other sources to assist our working classes such as arterial drainage, reclamation of waste lands and other employment of a remunerative description that would amply repay the expenditure of capital judiciously applied. Then, in God’s name, let us be up and doing – let each in his sphere of life aid and assist his fellow man and let the main object be – (while we benefit ourselves) to raise our country. In every case where a poor man is employed let him ne paid in cash. I never knew a locality where the system of cash payments was adopted that did not flourish; for example, look to your own neighbourhood of Ballinasloe where the rule has invariably cash and weekly payments. Is there a doubt if this system had not been employed here that many poor landholders, now in comparative affluence, would have been long dead or inmates in the Workhouse. Give the poor working man fair play and regularly paid wages, and claim only a reasonably moderate rent, such as the state of the markets will warrant and believe me that we will yet see a bold and hardy peasantry in Ireland.
I am, dear Sir, yours faithfully,
W. M. H. Poole
