thus we may see, at the commencement, a range of farms circumscribing the entire prairie. The burning of the prairies is then stopped, through the whole distance of the circuit in the neighborhood of these farms, to prevent injury to the fences and other improvements. This is done, by plowing two or three furrows all round the settlement. In a short time the timber springs up spontaneously on all the parts not burned, and the groves and forests commence a gradual encroachment on the adjacent prairies. By and by you will see another tier of farms springing up on the outside of the first, and further out on the prairie; and thus farm succeeds farm, as the timber grows up, until the entire prairie is occupied."

The sward of the prairies is exceedingly tough, composed of the fibrous grass-roots; and, in turning it over, five or six yoke of cattle are required to draw the plow. Two drivers, generally a man and a boy, guide the team. Moving over an unbroken surface, uninterrupted by stones or stumps, the plow moves steadily along; the plowman having but little to do, except at the end of the "lands," where the direction has to be changed, and the plow set in at a proper distance for the furrow. The modern wheel plow is mostly in use; the wheel at the nose of the beam regulating the depth, and the sharp colter, its heel set against the point of the share, dividing the sward like a knife. It would be almost impossible for the plowman alone to regulate the depth without the wheel; for sometimes the plow would be thrown out by the sward, and at other times plunged into the ground to the beam. To procure steadiness, the plow is set by the dip of the share, so as to run too deep, which brings a constant pressure upon the wheel, and binds the whole machine steadily to the earth. In earlier times, before the invention of plows that were adapted to prairie service, the end of the beam

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had to be attached to the axletree of a cart, the box of which served to carry an ax, mattock, chains, wrenches, screws, nuts, bolts, clevises, and pieces of timber for repairs, in case of accidents. The yield of wheat the . third season is deemed the best. After that the surface of the ground will have become mellow as an ash heap. Illinois has plenty of timber within its limits; and, were it equally distributed through the state, there would be no part deficient. The several species of oaks are most abundant. The other varieties are the black-walnut, the white-walnut, ash, elm, maple, honey-locust, hackberry, linden, or whitewood, pecan, cottonwood, mulberry, buckeye, sycamore, wild cherry, box, sassafras, and persimmon. The undergrowths are the red-bud, pawpaw, sumac, plum, crab-apple, dog-wood, spice-bush, greenbriar, and hazel. On the bottom-lands, the cottonwood and sycamore grow to amazing size.

The prairies of Illinois are finely adapted for grazing. Immense flocks and herds might find ample room and abundant supplies of pasturage. The inhabitants are

turning their attention in that direction. The state has superior advantages for the growth of wool, and might supply half the manufactories of the Union with that great staple. The clipping of wool, in 1840, was only about six hundred thousand pounds; in 1850 it had increased to nearly two and one half million pounds. There need be no limit to the growth of wool but the demand for it in the market.

The northern part of the state is inexhaustibly rich in minerals. Iron ore is widely distributed. Copper and silver have been found in considerable quantities. But the great mining operations are confined to the lead region, in the north-western point, in the vicinity of Galena. The lead region embraces an area of about sixty square

miles. Commencing at the mouth of the Little Moquaquity River, in Wisconsin, it extends along both banks of the Mississippi about sixty miles, in Wisconsin, Illinois, and Iowa. Galena is situated on both sides of the Fever River, six miles above the Mississippi, and is accessible to the largest class of steamboats, at all seasons.

Chicago, the most populous and commercial city of Illinois and the north-west, is situated on the southwestern shore of Lake Michigan, and on both sides of the Chicago River. The city is built on an extremely level plain, sufficiently elevated to prevent inundation, and extending many miles toward the south and west. The Chicago River and its north and south branches, which unite about three-quarters of a mile from the lake, divide the city into three parts. The main stream, flowing directly eastward, forms one of the best natural harbors on the lake. Vessels ascend the river nearly five miles. By a glance at the map, the superior commercial advantages of Chicago will be readily seen. It communicates by means of the lakes, and Michigan Central and Michigan Southern railroads, with the Atlantic cities; by the Illinois Central Railroad, in connection with steamers on the Mississippi, with New Orleans; by the Chicago, Alton & St. Louis Railroad, to St. Louis; and by other roads, embracing a vast extent of country, southwest and north. The rapid growth of Chicago is unparalleled. It was incorporated in 1836; in 1840, ít contained four thousand eight hundred and fifty-three inhabitants; in 1850, twenty-nine thousand nine hundred and sixty. three; and in 1856, about ninety thousand.

The Mississippi forms the western boundary of the state; the Ohio and the Wabash rivers demark its southern and eastern limits, together forming a natural highway, by water, of unexampled extent. The Illinois River,