The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1829-01-21
THE PR AIRTE

THE PRAIRIE.
/" 1t is not easy to describe the sensations
OF traveller, unaccustomed to such scene
ry, on first beholding the vast prairies
which was about to explore. Those
which had heretofore seen, were compare
lively small. The points of wood land which
make into them like SO many capes or prom
ontorles, and the groves which are inter.
spersed like islands, are, in these lesser
pralries, always sufficiently near to be clear
ly DEFINED to the eye, and give the scene an
interesting variety. We see a plain of sew
eral mics in extent, not perfectly level, but
gently rolling or undulating like the swell
ing OF the ocean when nearly calm. The
gracefnl curve of the surface is seldom
proKeh' except when here and there the
eye rests upNn one of those huge mounds,
whirh are so Pleasing to the poet, and so
perpeIng to The ANTIQUARIAN. The whole
is oVerspread Wlthyrass and flowers. con-
shutting rich and varied carpet, in which
a ground OF lively greehis ornarrented with
profuson of the guadiest hres. Deem re-
cesses IN the edge of the timber resemble
the bays and inlets of a lake; while orca-
slonally long vista, opening far back into
the forest, suffers the eye to roam off and
refresh itself with the calm beauty of dis
tant perspective.
The traveller, as he rides along these
smaller prairies, finds his eve continually
attracted to the edges of the forest, and his
imagination employed in tracing the beauti-
full outline, and in finding resemblance be-
tween these wild scenes, and the most hirb-
ly embelllshed productions of art. The no.
hlest parks of European princes, where
millions nave been expended to captivate
the fancy with Elysian scenes, are but
mimic representations of the beauties
which are here spread by nature; for here
are clumps, and lawns, and avenues, and
groves-the tangled thicket, and the soil
tary tree-and all the varieties of scenic
attractlon-but on scale so extensive. as
to offer an endless succession of changes
TO the eye. There is an air of civilization
here, that wins the heart-even here. where
no human residence Is seen, where no foot
lntrudes, and where not an axe has ever
trespassed on the beautiful domain So diff
ferent is this feeling from any thing inspir-
ed Ivy mountain and wood land scenerv.that
the instant the traveller energies from the
forest into the prairie, he no longer feels
SOLITARY. The consciousness that he is
travelling alone, and in a wilderness, es-
capes him, and he INDUCES the same pleas
ant sensations which are enioyed hy one.
who. having been lost among the labyrinlhs
OF Il savage mountain, suddenly descends
into rich and highly cultivated fields. The
gay landscape charms him. He is surround
ed by the refreshing sweetness, and grace
ful beauty of the rural scene and recog-
nlzes at every step some we'll remembered
spot, enlarged and beautified, and, as it
were retouched by natures hand. The
clusters of trees so fancifulIy arranged,
seem to have been disposed bv the hand of
taste, and so complete is the deluson, that
it is difficult to dispel the belief that each
avenue leads to village, and each grove
conceals splendid mansion.
Widely different was the prospect exhih-
itedin the more northern prairies. Vast in
extent, the distant forest was barely discov-
cradle in the shapeless outline of blue,
family impressed on the horizon. Here
and there, solitary tree, torn by the wind,
stood alone like dismartled mast in the
ocean. Alone, i'll wide waste, with my
faithful pilot only, was dependent on him
| for support, guidance, and protection With
/ little to diversity the path and less to please
I
me--a desolaton and whitening of the spirit,
as when the heart, left painfully alone, finds
nothing to love, nothing to admire, nothing
J from which to reap instruction or amuse-
mGnt. But these are feelings, which, like
the ea-sickness of the young mariner, are
soon dispelled. began to find pleasure
( in gazing over this immense, unbroken
waste in watching the horizon in the vague
! hope of meeting traveller, and in follow
( Ing the deer with my eyes, as they galloped
df-their forms growing smaller and small
er as they receded, until they faded grad.
ualy from the sight. Sometimes desert
ed dark spot at an immense distance, and
pointed it out to my companion with Joy
like that of the seaman, who discovers ;
distant sail in the speck which floats upor
the ocean. When such an object happened
to he in the direction Of our path, | watched
it as it rose and enlarged upon the vision
lsupposing it one moment to be man, and a
another, buffalo until, after it had seemed
to approach for hours, found it to be tree'
PRESERVATION OF WooD LoTs. Woo
should be felled or cut down between tht
months of November and March. This cir
cumstance renders it better fire wood, and
some say, more durable timber. And woot
which is cut, when the sap is down, OF il
the roots, is most apt to send forth sprouts
or suckers, and thus renew its growth.
In applying the axe to wood lot, whicl
the owner would wish to perpetuate by
series of reproductions, the best method i
to cut down every tree as far as you pro
coed. This will give the sprouts from tn,
stnmps, and other Young trees the advan
tages of a free circulation of the air, and
J fair exposure to the sun. But if some of th,
large trees are left, the shoots which spring
mp from the stumps of the others will Ian
guish beneath their shade.
That part Of the wood lot, which has heel
cut over, should be carefully fenced from
cattle; which will otherwise destroy tn,
young shoots by browsing on them. Car