200 TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS 



they are all trees that prefer a cold subsoil, and I find that they will stand 

 with me much better in a cold clay subsoil, than on the warmest and best 

 prepared land. 



Mr. Flagg asserts that "the very existence of these prairie lands 

 shows an original unfitness for tree growth." 



This would apply with equal force, nay, with greater force, to the 

 sandy and warm subsoil prairies, as they are even more destitute of timber 

 than the others. 



It would also apply to the prairies of Nebraska, and likewise to the 

 moors of England and Scotland, all of which were as destitute of timber 

 as our Illinois prairies, and, I may add, on all of which timber has been 

 found to grow with remarkable vigor. 



There seems but one difficulty to attend the growing of trees upon 

 these lands, and that will apply to one as well as to the other, and applies 

 to all exposed, level sections of country: it is the lack of shelter. 



We all know that it is harder to establish a young orchard, a grove, 

 or an ornamental plantation, on an open, level section of the country, 

 than in a broken, hilly or timbered country ; and wherever you see a 

 tree standing alone, and exposed to the winds, no matter what the soil 

 may be, you will see that it will not grow as thriftily as if sheltered by 

 other timber, or by inequality of surface, buildings, or hills. 



In the extensive forest plantations of Europe, this is so well under- 

 stood, that while they are at no expense in fitting or enriching the land, 

 they are at vast expense sometimes in supplying shelter, until the forests 

 become established. When the trees are once fairly rooted, they are 

 expected to protect each other, as they have been planted closely for that 

 very purpose. 



The casual observer may be pardoned for jumping to the conclusion, 

 that as willows, cottonwoods, and soft maples, are found more plentiful 

 in the prairie region than other trees, therefore they are better adapted to 

 prairie lands than any others. The practical tree-grower, on the other 

 hand, will notice, first, that there were no trees growing where the fires 

 could reach them ; then having examined the timber on the streams, he 

 finds the three trees alluded to by Mr. Flagg more plentiful than any 

 others. He asks himself if there are not other trees, as well as these 

 three, that will grow on lands saturated with water. Having satisfied 

 himself that this is the case, he then looks to see what power these trees 

 I)ossess to reproduce themselves, over others that grow on similar land, 

 and consequently, like them, protected in a great measure from fires. 



He finds that the willow and cottonwoocl produce immense quantities 

 of seeds, arranged in such a manner that the winds will carry them to 

 great distances ; that they will germinate in very wet soil, immedi- 

 ately after they leave the tree, and make a growth the same summer, 

 while almost all other trees ripen their seed in the fall, which are conse- 

 quently liable to be destroyed by fires, if on dry ground, or by water, if 

 they fall on moist ground, for few seeds will bear soaking in water the 

 whole winter. The soft maple also ripens its seeds in spring, which germi- 

 nates immediately, and although it is not fitted to be carried so far as 



