Ordinarily, all the country, of a nature to become prairie, is already in that state; yet the writer of this has seen, in the country between the Missouri and Mississippi, after unusual dry seasons, more than one hundred acres of woodland together converted into prairie. And again, where the grass has been prevented from burning by accidental causes, or the prairie has been depastured by large herds of domestic cattle, it will assume, in a few years, the appearance of a young forest. Numerous proofs of this fact can be adduced, but a few shall suffice. The vicinity of St. Louis and St. Charles affords instances. Both these beautiful places are situated on what are termed first and second bottoms, or flats—the former on the Missisippi, the latter on the Missouri; the second or upper bottoms, in both, are high plains, that commence within a few hundred yards of the rivers, and extend back many miles; all the old French inhabitants will tell you, that the prairies formerly came immediately up to those places. Now the surrounding country for several miles is covered with a growth of trees of four or five inches diameter, near the towns where the burning first ceased, and gradually diminishing in size as you recede, until you at length gain the open prairies. So the barrens in Kentucky; many of the first settlers of that state distinctly recollect when many of those barrens were clear prairies, now partially covered with small trees. It is deemed unnecessary to offer more proofs, or additional arguments, in support of the opinion that the prairies were occasioned by fire, and not by water. Indeed one glance at the maps of those extensive prairie countries, surveyed by order of government, where the prairies and woodland are distinguished and correctly delineated, should carry conviction. The timber will be there observed to skirt the rivers; in the country near their sources a few solitary trees are seen, close on the banks, secure from the fires, and increasing in numbers as the rivers increase in size, and the low grounds become more extensive.
The view given of the prairies by Mr. A. is correct; but was certainly painted in the winter season—they are, at that season, bleak and uncomfortable both to the feelings and sight; but a full return is made to both when the spring opens. The prairies (particularly to the west) are then covered with the richest verdure, interspersed with an immense variety of wild flowers, that send forth the most grateful odours. Ascend one of the small hills, and you have a prospect as delightful as it is possible for the imagination to conceive. Far as the eye can carry you, a delightful country extends, through which numerous streams wind their serpentine courses, with groves and clumps of trees at intervals upon their banks. On one hand, at an immense distance, the small hills and groves are seen rising above the blue horizon; on the other, the view is pleasantly terminated by the wood on the low grounds skirting the river to which the smaller streams are tributary—while herds of buffalo, elk, deer, and other animals, are frequently seen slowly travelling to and from the watering-places, or grazing on the plains. The inhabited parts of the country present a prospect still more pleasing; around the margin of those extensive rich prairies, numerous habitations are seen, withdrawn a short distance in the wood, from the winter's cold and summer's heat—their finely cultivated fields lie in the prairies, which yield at once to the plough, without the previous Herculean labour of demolishing the forest. The area between the farms is a common of pasture to the numerous herds during the spring, summer, and autumn, and a small part mowed affords hay for the winter. The farmer who takes up his habitation in the neighbourhood of the prairies, has many of the advantages of an old inhabited country, and all the advantages of the new.
Art. III. Sketch of the Mineralogy and Geology of the Vicinity of Williams' College, Williamstown, Mass.
Art. III. Sketch of the Mineralogy and Geology of the Vicinity of Williams' College, Williamstown, Mass. By Professor Dewey, of Williams' College, in a letter to the Editor.
The following sketch includes a space extending from Hoosack mountain on the east, to the State of New-York on the west, and a small distance into Vermont on the north. The accompanying map shows the relative situation of the streams, and the principal hills and mountains. The map is an enlarged copy of Carleton's map of this part of the state, with one or two corrections, which truth required. The latitude and longitude are probably not perfectly accurate.
A Geological MAP of a part of Massachusetts on
Connecticut River 1817.