The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1872-01-20

Popuius dugui,sa } Iu,ermingled with
these are found clamps of osiers { Saiir
iongJohd) In almost any other por
ton Of the country the cottonwood
would be the least desirable of trees;
but to the Indian, and, in many 10.
stances which have fallen under my
observation, to our troops, the cotton.
wood has performed a service for which
no other tree has been found its equal,
and that is as forage ioT horses and
mules during the winter season, when
the snow preyeots eveu the dried grass
from being obtaiuable.
The herbagc to be fUund on the prin.
cipaI portion of the Plains is usually
sparse aud stunted 10 its growth. Along
the banks of the streams aud ia the
bottom lands there grows generally 10
rich abundance a species Of grass often
found ia the States east Of the Missis.
sippi; bat On the uplands is produced
what Is there known as the buffalo
grass" indigenous and peculiar in Its
character, differing 10 form aud sub
stance from all other grasses. The
blade, under favorable circumstances,
reaches Il growth usually Of irom three
to FIVE inches, but, instead Of being
straight, or approximately so, it as
sumes n curled or waving shape, the
grass itself becoming deusely matted,
aud giving TO the foot, when walking
upon it, a sensation similar to that pro
duccd by stepping upon moss or the
most costly OF velvet carpets.
Nearly all graminivorous animals 10
habIting the Plains. except the elk aod
some species of the deer, prefer the
buffalo g,uss to that Of the lOwl md; aud
1t is probable that even these exceptions
would not prove good ii it were not for
the timber on the bottom land, which
affords good cover to both the elk aud
the deer. Both are often found in large
herds grazing upon the uplands, al
though the grass is far more luxuriant
aud plentiful 90 the lowlands. Our
domestic animals invariably choose the
buffalo grass, und experience demon
strates beyond question that it is most
nutritious of all varieties of wild grass
The iavorite range of the buffalo is
contained 10 belt OF county running
north aud south, about two hundred
miles wide, aud extending from the
Platte river on the north to the valley
Ut the Upper Canadian on the south.
In migrating, if not grazing or alarmed,
the buffalo invariably moves ia single
bile. the cUlunn generally being headed
by patriarch OF the herd, who is not
only familiar with the topography Of
the country, but whose prowess ''in the
held' entities him to become the leader
OF his herd. lie maintains this leader.
ship only So long us his strength aud
courage enable him to remain the sue.
cesslul champion in the iunumerabe
contests which he is called gu to main
tain. The buffalo trails are always Oh
jects Of interest and inquiry to the
sight seer on the Plains. These trails
made BY the herds in their migrating
movements are 50 regular 10 their cun
structlon aud course as to well excite
curiosity. They vary but little from
eight TO ten inches IN width, aud are
usually from two tO four Inches ia dcblh;
their course is almost as unvaryiug ~
that Of the needle running north aud
south. OF the thousands of buffalo
trails which | have seen, recollect
ooue OF which the general direction was
not north aud south. This may seem
somewhat surprising ut first thought,
but 1t admits OF u simple aud satisiacto
ny explanation.
The general direction Of all streams,
large aud small, ou the Plains, is from
the west to the east, seek lug as they do
aa entrance to the Mississippi The
habits Of the buffalo incline hun to Craze
aud migrate from Que stream To auoth
er, moving uOrthward aud crossing each
in succession rs he follows the Young
grass in the spring, aud moving south
ward seeking the milder clln4t aud
open grazing in the fall aud winter
Throughout the buffalo country are to
be seen what are termed buffalo wal
lows" The number OF these is so great
as To excite surprise; u moderate estI
mate would give from one 10 three to
each acre OF ground throughout this
country. These walIows are about eight
feet IN diameter aud lrom six to eigh
ieeu inches Ia depth, aud are made By
the buffalo bulls Ia the spriug when
challenging u rival to combat for the
favor OF the opposite sex The ground
Is broken by paving gil an animal will
a hOol eau be said TO paw--aad if the
challenge is accepted, as il usually is,
the combat takes place after which
the one who Comes off victorious re-
maius ia possession Of the battle field
aud, occupying the "wallow" of fresh
uPturned earth, 6nds it produces a cool
ing sensation tu his hot aud CORY sides
Sometimes the victory which gives pos
session OF the battle field aud drives a
hated antagonist away Is purchased ut a
dear price. The carcass OF the victor
Is often found 10 the wailow, where his
brlef triumph has soon Terminated from
the effects oi his wounds. la the early
spring, during the shedding season, the
buffalo resorts to his walluw TO aid in "a
moving his old coat. These wallows have
proven Of no little benefit to mau, as wull
as to animals other than he buffalo. Aft
er heavy rain they become filled with
water, the soil being Of such compact
chacter AS to retain il. IL has not un
frequently been the case when making
long marches that the streams would be
found dry, while water in abundance
could be obtained from the ''wallows. -
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