109 



ovc with it, were it not that partial settlements have within 



a hundred years interrupted its progress, by the 



animal burning of the dead prairie grass, which consumes at the 



j >ung pinc> sprouts that would otherwise spring up 



dually. Tins is also the reason why the pine woods are generally 



fblear of young pine trees, because they are destroyed by the fires 



kindled to burn the pine haves, which cover the ground and prevent 



from Bprouting. In addition to this, the grazing of 



^ numerous herds of cattle in the prairies as well as the pine 



atributee much to produce the same result, for late in the summer 

 1 ~ and in early fall, after the grass has seeded, and its tops aro dry and 

 •' .-withered, the cattle not only nip the young grass, but also the pino 

 % , sprouts, that may accidentally show themselves above the su 



rid by this means their further growth is prevented. 

 I • The pine lamb-, which take their beginning from the north bank 

 5'oi • fork of u river, extend a hundred and fifteen 



• ' *niles from south to n<>rth in the direction of Alexandria, and seventy 

 \ miles from east to west, from the edge of the St. Landry and Cal- 



ies to Sabine river, which is the boundary line between 

 '#' Louisiana and Texas. 



This extensive pine region embraces over eight thousand square 



ilea of land, and the pine flats forms one of the best ranges for 



> live stock that can be found within the limits of the State, for there 



grass is almost as thick and luxuriant as in the prairies, and 



£ . ^hey are almost prelerable for pasturage, because the top-branched 



f, tree's afford considerable shade, and protect the stock from the exces- 



• sive heat of the sun, while the creeks and bayous are far more 

 . • numerous, which serve as convenient watering places for cattle. 



• In the low grounds, the creek bottoms, called hummocks, are rich, 

 'p but they are for the most part, slovenly cultivated in corn or cotton. 

 (4 Whenever the traveler reaches one of these water coures, however 

 ' insignificant in size, he will find deep gullies and steep, sloping 



, banks, which must be passed at considerable risk of upsetting or of 



being balked in a sticky, tenacious mud. Here the pine suddenly 



. o i its, and the character of the vegetation chang. iher. 



On a strip of land not exceeding a quarter of a mile in width, bor- 



y pines on both sides, the sweet gum, black jack, p st 

 red oak, hickory, mock orange, the Ilea Virginica and the Viburnum 

 nudum, present <piite a contrast to the dust of the pi; 



