Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1848-11-06
For the En-,
ILLINols-[No " ]
THE PRdIPIES!

The title Of" Prairic' State" has been given 10
Illinois from the fact that more than two
thirds the surface is prairie II is prevalent
error to suppose prairie, fat and wet, with
grass tall and coarse enough 10 make fire, an
sweriug TO Cooper's description in his "Praire. y
That is fanciful, so far as have ever seen.--
There are occasional strips Of land from twenty
to fifty yards in width, made wet By springs, with
frequently a rivulet running through them.
where the grass grows, reed-like, from four to
ten, or even fifteen feet in height, and these we
term "s!urs," properly sloughs. But most OF
tie prairie grass is from one 10 two, or three
feet high, and, particularly in the uplands, fue
as any cultivated grasses.
III some sections, Is Immediately about Chi
cage, the surface is nearly level, and except in
dry seasons is wet, because the water can only
pass oil oy slow absorption and evaporation; but
IN general the Illinois prairics dry, and beam-
fully undulating, rolling No other word will
express il, and no one can get the meaning with
out seeing for himself, for he will no, give .ui-
cient bounds 10 his Imagination 10 LEI il equal
the reality.
Go 10 your largest, smoothest, most beautiful
meadow, and imagine it stretching off many
miles TO the farthes, extent OF vision Around
you grow flowers, of varied hue, so thick, that al
little distance the heritage appears almost
wholly fancy colored; and the deep emerald
groves rise here and there like islands in The
ocean. The surface trolls and luctuates 10 The
eye" III the most graceful swells Of Nature, and
as roll succeeds roll, and shadows of the passing
clouds float lightly over the grass, waving in the
Summers breeze, II is easy 10 imagine the
rounded pillows of the ocean gamboIIing after
storm. Nothingl have ever seen of landscape
scenery compares with them in grace and beau
ty, or makes ones heart so bound with ecstalic
delight Mnging with the beauty is also an
impression of sodty and firmness, which water
cannot impart, and then there is vastness, a
realization of liberty to mind and limb, room to
grow in, which cannot elsewhere be found on
terra frma.
But attempt at description is utterly futile.
Sec the prairies yourself, if you have a love for
the grand and beautiful in Nature. Go and
spend days, and weeks, and months, as | have
done, in driving through these Gardens OF the
DESERT till you become weary with exclama-
ton, till satiated with delight You would then
know how impossible il is TO give one who has
never seen it just conception of an Illinois
prairie.
But, in practical point OF view, The beauty Of
the prairies is their least recommendation 10
the farmer They arc natures forest clearinps.
saving the wearing out of Two or three genera.
tons 10 gel rid of useless timber. The pew SCI,
Ter can enter uron them and pow and sow and
reap good crop the first year. "The big pas
lure" all around MIN furnishes free and annie
range Throughout The summer for a his Aorks
and herds, No matter il he counts by thousands
and ne gets his winters hay for lbe cost Of cut
ting and stacking. The settling OF the country
will put an end 10 this in time, but as vel thou
sands Of acres OF first rate pasurase and mea.
dow are open 10 The Tree use Of any one who
chooses 10 occupy the !.
The soil al the prairies is usually deep and
rich. some oil y is light, as is tina, OF some tim
oered land aisoi tui IN The central and Norbcrn
parts Of onr State (about the South am no, 50
well lnioTmed) II IS mostly from one 10 lvo leel
In depth; on the uplands and in The river bottoms
much deeper Generally it is black, sandy
loan, and sometimes 50 purely vegetable mouId
asalmosl entirely 10 consume by fire. Under the
soil is usually layer Of sand or sravelly ear,h
and underneath that bed OF hard, pure clay OF
limestone. Ii this makes not a GOOD soil and
one that with good husbapdry will last. know
moi what will. DR.. c. T Jackson Of Massacbu-
sets, made a careful analysis OF several sneci.
mems, which were published in the Prairie Far
mer Tor ls44, vol. 4, page pa. They show The
prairie soils 10 be among The bes, in the country.
Some may have become so welded TO The ha
on o. chopping down huge trees merely 10 clear
Inc land, that they can see no beauty or utility in
pra'rie, where there is neither stump nor stone
TO ,nJnre plough or cradle, or obs,ruc, the free
passage OF any labor-saving machine used in III. |
lase. all such will avoid The greater part OF Il. |
liuois. But we would ask them il thew ever
MADE an estimate OF the expense OF clearing |