National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1872-01-05

As yon ,,roceed toward the west from
the Missouri, Aya Gen. Custer, the
size Of the trees diminishes as well as
the nun Der c ( kinds. As you penetrate
the borders OF the Indian country, leay-
ing civilization behind you, the sight Of
forests is no longer enjoyed, the only
trees Ia he seen being scattered along
the banks of the streams these bccom-
ing smaller and more rare, finally dis
appearing altogether and giving place 10
n few scattering willows and osiers The
greater portion Of the Plains may be- said
to be without timber of any kind. As
To the cause Of this absence, scientific
men disagree, some claiming that the
high winds which prevail in unobstruct-
ed force prevent the growth and exist
ence of not only trees but even the
taller grasses. This theory is well sup
ported 10y facts, rs, unlike the Western
prairies, where the grass often nttalns
height sufficient to conceal innn op
horseback, The Plains ARE covered by a
grass which rarely, and only under favor
able circumstances, exceeds three inches
IN height. Another theory. also some
" hat plausible, is that the entire Plains
WERE Nt tiit tiIuf 'oNtTtu WIN
more or less dense, but this timber,
owing to various causes, was destroyed,
and has since been prevented from grow
ing or spreading over the Plains by the
annual fires which the Indians regularly
create, and which sweep over the entire
country. These fires are built 10y
Indians in the fall to burn the dried
grass and hasten the growth Of tho pas.
turage in the early spring. Favoring
the theory that the Plains were ut che
time covered with forests, il the fact
that entire trunks of large trees have
been found in state Of petrifcation on
elevated portions of the country, and
far removed from streams of water
In routing the Indians from their win.
ter villages. we invariably discovered
them located upon that point of the
stream promising the greatest supply OF
cottonwood bark, while the stream in
the vicinity of the village was complete
ly shorn of its supply of timber and
the village itself was strewn with the
white branches of the cottonwood Ell.
tirely stripped of their bark II was
somewhat amusing to observe an Indian
pony feeding on cottonwood bark. The
limb being usually cut into pieces about
four feet i'll length and thrown upon the
ground. the pony, accustomed to this
kind of long forage" would place one
fore foot on the limb in the same manner
as dog secures bone, and gnaw the
bark from it. Although not atfording
anything like the amount of nutriment
which either hay or grain does, vet our
horses invariably preferred the bark to
either, probably on account of its fresh.
ness.
The heritage TO he found on the prin-
cipal portion of the Plains is usually
sparse and strnted in its growth. Along
the banks of the streams and i'll the bot
tom lands there grows generally in rich
abundance n species of grass often found
in the States east Of the Mississippi but
on the uplands is produced what is there
known as the buffalo grass" indigo
nous and peculiar in its character differ
ing III form and substance from all other
grasses The blade under favorable
circumstances reaches growth usually
of from three to five inches, but instead
of beng straight, or Approximately so,
II assumes a cmled or waving shape,
the grass itself becoming densely mat
ted. and giving to the foot, when walk
ing npon it, n sensation similar to that
produced by stepping upon moss or the |
most costly of velvet carpets.
Nearly all graminivorous animals in
habiting the Plains, except the elk and
some species of the deer, prefer the buf.
falo grass to that of the lowland and it
is probable that even these exceptions
i u r
the timber on the bottom land, which |
affords good cover to both the elk and |
the deer Both are often found in large |
herds grazing upon the uplands, al
though the grass is far more luxuriant .
and plentiful on the lowlands. Our |
domestic animals invariably choose the
buffalo grass, and experience demon
Strates beyond question that 1t is the
most nutritious of all varieties of wild
grass.