Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1822-01-01
way Plains in particular, are of thai de.


There are considerable tracts on the
western side OF Indiana which are more
or less bare of timber, and are nor allu-
vial. These are called barrens term
which, in this country, has no reference
to the quality Of the soil, but merely I'M
plies deficiency Of timber either partial
or total. It's probable from the appear
ance of the surrounding wood lands, and
OF the decaying relics OF trees scattered
over their surface, that these tracts have
been denuded by the agency of fire.
North Of Vincennes there are bare
tracts of different character; some OF
them, in the neighborhood of the Wa
bash, may be composed of the aluvium
ofthe river, Others are high and rolling,
but TO the experienced eye, exhibit a
character distinct from the barreas.--
These are gcn,in hrairie8, though OF
comparatively small eStent.
Crossing the Wabash, some barrens
are found, on the eastern side Of the state
of Illinois, like those of Indiana, but as
we proceed westward, north Oh latitude
SO, we enter prairie country. Belts oil
timber accompany the streams, and &C.
casonally, tracts of billy and thin soiled
uplands, are tolerably well wooded, but
beyond comparison the larger portion OF
the surface Is without vestige OF tree
or shrub.
As the rivers flow from North to
South, they, and the timber, which it,
variably accompanies them, form the
Eastern and Western boundaries ofvast
prairies, which are wider or narrower as
The streams approach or recede from
each other.
These prairies terminate to the South
in broken and timbered country. But
TO the North or rather the North-NV est,
their limits have not believe, been ascer-
tained The Grand Prairie, in par,icu-
lar, which is in many parts twenty miles
in breadth, is upwards of one hundred
miles in length, in this state. Il is SAID
TO extend beyon the Mississippi, and, in
fact, to form an arm of the vast open
plains stretching far away TO the North
West Of that river.
| have traversed the prairies from one
side Of this state TO the other, and in va
rious directions; and have no hesitation
in deciding that they are not ailuuial in
formation, unless the superficial stratum
If vegetable mould may be termed al
luv;ai, as il is evidently an aqueous de-
post. The soils, properly al.uvial,
which border the rivers, are as l have
before observed, covered with timber.
The universal covering OF the pfairies,
and indeed Of the whole country, is q
black mould varying from six inches to
two feet or more in depth, ola quality so
entirely uniform, that ii should seem to
have been deposited over this extensive
region, at the same period, by some vast
body of superintendent water. Il is al
most entirely free from stones Or coarse
fragments, and the PARTICLES are SO Ene
as TO be scarcely palpabIe. Nposscsscs
large proportion ofzuater If ctsorAtion
(not eyaporabie by the sun or atmos-
phere) in union with its c!ayey parti-
clcs; and these are SO intimately mixed
with fne siiicious sand as to proven, all
tendency to bind or accumulate in clods
when under cultivation. This enables
I it to retain moisture with wonderful te-
nacity through the dryest seasons; and,
in the wettest, it does not hoId water, but
becomes firm and fit for the plough in
few hours after the heaviest rains.
One hundred parts of this soil contains
by analysis, about
parts water of absorption,
parts Vegetable matter,
parts clay with small portion OF
oxide of Iron, and the remainder silicious
sand, nearly impalpable.
This excellent soil rests on subsoil
Of loan, more or less retentive as it APP
proaches to the character OF clay or sand.
There are extensive tracts where the
subsoil is most absorbent, which are dry
at all seasons, and others which are at
times wet and spouty. In some instan-
ces this is caused by subsoil impermea-
BILE to water, but in many cases the wet
ness arises from the redundant moisture
of higher lands, and may be easily re-
NEEDED by the simple process Of in
closure, ifjudiciously conducted.
agricultural observer who has been
accustomed to The soils of Europe, par
ticularly of Great Britain, where clay,
sand, gravel, calcarcous earth, and their
admixtures in every conceivable proper
ton, may be seen within the compass OF
few miles, or possibly on the same
farm, is struck by the absolute identity
or surface which here prevails over re-
gion comprehending, at least, twenty
millions of acres. Here the difference
Of quality depends almost wholly on the