Natural Meadows of the Cumberland Plateau 37 



of the stream out of it slowly drained it. This process kept up until 

 finally the lake was converted into a swamp and then into the "nat- 

 ural meadows" of the present day. If this theory is correct a few 

 more generations or centuries might be expected to complete the 

 drainage to such an extent that the forest would gradually creep in 

 upon the "meadows." 



Whatever may be the exact origin of the "natural meadows," they 

 are a very interesting natural curiosity of the many of our State. 



