32. On the Prairies and Barrens of the West. 
the fresh meadows of the east; because the upland near 
them is richer, consequently the alluvion of the prairies will 
be deeper and finer ; and the climate is warmer, and more 
favourable to spontaneous productions. 
It is not impossible for prairies to be formed on the sides 
of mountains near their tops, like the glades on the Allegha- 
ny mountain; because there may be shallow hollows on the 
sides of mountains, lying nearly parallel to them, and so 
formed as to contain so much water from rain and the springs 
above them, that trees will not grow in them; and in pro- 
cess of time a quantity of alluvial soil from the higher parts 
of the mountain and from leaves and other vegetable sub- 
stances will be accumulated in them, so as to reach the sur- 
face of the water, then particular kinds of grass will grow, 
and the hollow will exhibit every appearance of a natural 
meadow. 
4, The Barrens, so called from their sterile e appearance, 
are found on the high plains in the west parts of Ohio and 
Kentucky, in Indiana, Hlinois and Missouri—They have 
features in common with the prairies, but are essentially dif- 
ferent in many respects. 
They occupy the highest part of the country, and are 
generally level ; some of them are uneven, but I have seen 
aone hilly.—They are generally poorer than the timbered 
land in their vicinity, but some spots in them may be richer. 
They are spotted with innumerable groves or clusters of 
stmted oak and hickory trees, of about half the size which 
the same kind are on the timbered land. 
The soil is not a recent alluvion like the prairies; and if 
it isnot primitive, it is at least as old as any other parts of 
the great western valley. I think it must be evident to 
every one who will view the barrens attentively, that their 
present appearance was caused by fires, which have con- 
sumed the trees and the acorns from which they grow: be- 
cause many of the trees that are standing are partially burnt, 
and almost every one that is lying down has been burnt more 
or less. The surface bemg generally level, the rains make 
them wet or moist three fourths of the year, and the warm 
climate urges a spontaneous production of wild grass and 
weeds somewhat similar te that of the prairies. The fires 
in the barrens are generally kindled by the Indians for the 
convenience of travelling over the smooth surface, to enable 
