Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1877-08-29
THE PRAIRIES.
Why are They ''Treeless "---An Expla-
nation by Professor Whitney.
Providence journal

nation by Professor Whitney.
Providence Journal.
WHY the prairies of our central States
and Territories are, in their natural
state, treeless, is thing which has at
tracted general interest among observ-
ers, and to account for it two theories, at
least, are prominent, viz:
/. That it is the result of fires set by
the Indians, sweeping over them and
burning the trees which originally grew,
preventing also new growths from gain
ing foothold and second, that it is the
effect of certain Chronological peculia-
rites Of the regions, particularly the dis
tribution and amount of rainfall there
from year to year.
The first explanation is pretty COM
monty received, perhaps, and were it
not for some objections connected with
it not easily answered, might set the
matter at rest. The second has some
we'll Established facts of climatology In
its support, to degree at least, and
were it not that they were far from uni
versal application in accounting for the
existence of these treeless meadows, it
might satisfy many inquiring minds.
A writer in the American Naturalist,
Prof J. D. Whitney, in vigorous arti-
Gle we'll defended by facts observed by
himself and others, shows what he
deems to be errors upon which both
theories are founded, and, although
disclaiming any theory of his own in
regard to the matter, gives abundant
facts and observations which serve to
develop one.
What then, is the explanation of
this anomalous condition of the tree
| less regions, fertile and productive in
grasses and grain, almost beyond be-
lief?
Prof. Whitney gives the key to his
belief in a few words: "The division
lin forest and prairie) seems purely
arbitrary one until looked upon III the
light of geology" Again: CAS- a re-
suit of a great number of observations
made over all the prairie States, we find
almost without exception that the alb
sence of forests is connected with eX-
treme finenesS of soil, and that this fine
material usually occurs in heavy depos-
its" Of the tree-covered patches, he
says, chow clear it becomes when we
!
the skies and the rain tables'
| Wherever the coarse drift mate
rials are at or near the surface, there he
finds trees but where the material is
very fine, the ground is ueeless in its
natural condition. Along the wooded
bluffs, the material is coarse, the rock
cropping out frequently. On the wood
ed "bottoms" he finds coarse materials,
the finer being washed out. The oak
groves" cover mounds of coarse ma
terial. Very little of drift " material
is met with in the prairie region. Not
a stone to throw at a bird can be found.
Prof Whitney leaves the vegetable
physician to explain why this tineness
of soil is unfavorable to vegetable
growth, but presents his facts AS geol-
ogist, as the basis of a true theory of the
cause of the prairies.
One other point he takes up which
will readily occur to the reader as bear
/ ing upon the subject. 1t is ascertained
that were the fires kept from the prairies,
forests would soon spring up and cover
! the ground. The answer to this is that
there is no such evidence of it. Again,
that when trees are planted they imme-
diately grow and with great rapidity,
that it is an easy thing to raise forests
on the prairies The author asserts
that such stories are told by those hay
ing land for sale, and that the best an
swer to them is in quoting few words
of practical man, Mr.. Leonard B.
Hodges, Superintendent of Tree Plant
ing for the st. Paul & Pacific Railroad
He says: Without this thorough pre-
paration (of SOIL failure and disap-
pointment will be the result. And the
State Of Minnesota regards it SO ardu-
Gus task to raise forest that it offers
a bounty of two dollars per acre for ten
years for every acre of any kind Of
forest trees except black locust
In confirmation of the statement that
a very fine soil is not favorable to an
arborescent growth, we can call to mind
many instances, even in New England
of lakes and ponds which have become
filled with fine, rich materials, and nc
matter how dry they have become, they
do not grow trees, but are covered
with natural meadow grasses and other
plants.