| I'd like to know about the Irish great famine in the 1840s. Also, I want to know about the causes and symptoms of potato blight. |
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The great famine of Ireland took place in 1845-1849, and it is said that about a million people died of hunger during those years. In the early 1840's around a third of Irish people depended on the potato as their main source of food, and thus the destruction of the potato harvest because of potato blight in 1845 launched a catastrophe.
More information about the famine:
http://www.wesleyjohnston.com/users/ireland/past/famine/index.htm
http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/british/victorians/famine_01.shtml
Potato blight is a potato disease caused by a fungus. Its origins are in America, from where it spread to Europe by a shipment of seed potatoes destined for Belgian farmers in 1845. Potato blight first affects the leaves and later the actual… |
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