eran DUC BR OUN@e BU lala leN: 31 
ter the appearance of the grasslands, except in burning the dry grass to 
yreen it up, to coax in the migrating herds of bison. Their very existence 
volved around the bison which provided their food, clothing, shelter, and 
imitive tools. 
White man invaded the grasslands of the west in hordes after the 
Tomestead Laws of 1862. Many made temporary settlement on lands too 
iry to farm and were instrumental in causing the “oakies” and dust storms 
f the 1930s. Settlement of the grasslands involved the pioneering trek 
cross the over-expanding prairie, where land and sky met only on the 
listant horizon, a dream which lay forever in the distant future but never 
vas realized. 
Over-grazing and the “sod busting” steel plow destroyed the short 
ass prairie of the west and later brought on the “oakies” and blinding 
lust storms. 
Costello lists states and areas in which remnant native prairies can 
ull be found. It is hoped that Illinois will yet preserve areas of native 
all prairie in Goose Lake, in Southeast Illinois, and strips along railroad 
ights of way. Several states have established prairie parks with native 
ora and fauna. —J. W. Galbreath 
READING THE WOODS: Seeing More In Nature’s Familiar Faces. 
By Vinson Brown. Stackpole Books. 1969. 160 pages. $5.95 
‘his book is written for the casual observer who enjoys the sight of woods, 
nd would like to learn the language of the woods in order to really 
inderstand the tales they tell. The many black and white photographs, 
he excellent pen line illustrations in the margins, the chapter organiza- 
ion with its headings and subheadings, and the index all help the reader 
ind the desired information rapidly. The entire North American continent 
s covered in the book. 
The author explains the signs that tell us the effect of climate, weather, 
oil, fire, animal and man on the forest and woods. He also strives to 
levelop in the reader the same sense of appreciation, adventure, wonder 
nd reverence for the life in the forest that he has. His descriptions and 
xplanations are simple, picturesque and imaginative, while avoiding all 
clentific and technical terminology. Certainly, anyone who will use this 
olume before, during or after a walk in the woods will be richly rewarded 
y the feeling of sharing in something wonderful—a communion with 
ature. 
Vinson Brown encourages the reader to learn about the entire plant 
ommunity, to learn the work of water upon the land and the forest. In 
section on the redwoods, he explains the value of fog: Where the canyons 
f the California coast allow this fog to creep inland, the great trees 
ourish, but wherever walls of rocks stop this progress of the dampness 
f the sea, the redwood trees stop growing as if cut off by a giant hand. 
0, the very presence of these trees tells us of frequent and thick fogs 
yithout ever having to see those fogs, and so also do other plants associated 
ith the redwoods...so “the redwoods speak of quiet peace and hissing 
oe” 
In a chapter entitled “Understanding the Leaf-Dropping Forests,” he 
as an illuminating section on “the rich oaks and their poor relatives,” 
