abounds in the northern and middle portions. The
chestnut is found in the eastern portion of the Valley as far as
Indiana, but not a tree is known to exist in a natural state west of the
Wabash river. Yellow or pitch pine, grows in several counties of
Missouri, especially on the Gasconade, from whence large quantities of
lumber are brought to St. Louis. White pine from the Alleghany river is
annually sent to all the towns on the Ohio, and further down.
Considerable quantities of white pine grow on the upper Mississippi,
along the western shore of Michigan, about Green bay, and along the
shores of lake Superior. The yellow poplar, (Liriodendron tulipifera) is
a majestic tree, valuable for light boards, and may be found in some
parts of most of the western states. The beech tree is frequently found
in company. The live oak, so valuable in ship building, is found south
of the 31 deg., and along the Louisiana coast. The orange, fig, olive,
pine apple, &c. find a genial climate about New Orleans. High in the
north we have the birch, hemlock, fir, and other trees peculiar to a cold
region. Amongst our fruit bearing trees we may enumerate the walnut,
hickory or shag bark, persimmon, pecan, mulberry, crab apple, pawpaw,
wild plum, and wild cherry. The vine grows everywhere. Of the various
species of oak, elm, ash, linden, hackberry, &c. it is unnecessary to
speak. Where forests abound, the trees are tall and majestic. In the
prairie country, the timber is usually found on the streams, or in
detached groves.

In the early settlement of Kentucky there were found, south of Green
river, large tracts, with stunted scattering trees intermixed with hazel
and brushwood. From this appearance it was inferred that the soil was of
inferior quality, and these tracts were denominated "barrens."
Subsequently, it was found that this land was of prime quality. The
term "barrens" is now applied extensively in the West to the same
description of country. It distinguishes an intermediate grade from
forest and prairie. A common error has prevailed abroad that our prairie
land is wet. _Prairie_ is a French word signifying _meadow_, and is
applied to any description of surface, that is destitute of timber and
brushwood, and clothed with grass. Wet, dry, level, and undulating, are
terms of description merely, and apply to prairies in the same sense as
they do to forests. The prairies in summer are clothed with grass,
herbage and flowers, exhibit a de