Tazewell County, Illinois - Chapter 4: Geology, 1879

Chapter 4: Geology

TAZEWELL county comprises an area of about six hundred and thirty-five square miles, and is bounded on the north by Woodford county, on the east by McLean and Woodford, on the south by Logan and Mason, and on the west by the Illinois river.

The surface of the country, over a large portion of this county, is a high, undulating prairie, with here and there groves and belts of timber. The soil is generally a rich brown mold, varying somewhat in different localities, in the proportion of clay, etc., which it contains, some portions being more argillaceous than others. In the timber, however, which occupies not more than one-fifth of the entire surface, and in the broken country along the Illinois river, the soil is of a somewhat different character, the lighter colored and more argillaceous subsoil appearing at or near the surface.

The principal streams which drain this county are the Illinois and Mackinaw rivers. Along the Illinois river we find, in some places rather extensive sandy tracts of river formation, and the bald bluffs of the Loess, are in some localities conspicuous features in the general landscape.

The principal kind of timber found in the upland wooded tracts of this county are, the several varieties of oak and hickory, black walnut, butternut, maple, bass-wood, red-bud, sassafras, etc. On the river bottoms, and in low damp lands generally, the sycamore, buckeye, black ash, elm, etc., are abundant. The sandy ridges are generally covered with a growth of scrubby oak, and black jack, with a thin admixture of other species.

The geological formation appearing at the surface in this county, consists almost entirely of the Drift, and later formations, the older rocks outcropping only at a comparitively few localities. The underlying rocks, however, as far as can be ascertained from these outcrops, consists entirely of the Coal Measure series.

In the western portion of the county, in the ravines and broken country along the Illinois river, we observe, in a number of places at the base of the Drift, a bed of cemented gravel or conglomerate, showing sometimes an irregular stratification, similar to that of beach deposits. A ledge of this material 9 or 10 feet thick may be seen in the north-western quarter of section 7, Groveland township, up one of the side ravines which comes down through the Illinois river bluffs, a little south of Wesley City, and other similar ledges appear in various places in the vicinity of Fond du Lac and also on the Mackinaw in the eastern part of the county. Another similar bed of cemented gravel, of, however, a comparatively insignificant thickness, may be seen about half way up the face of the bluff at the steamboat landing in the city of Pekin, where it does not appear to be more than a few inches thick.

Coal Measures

All the stratified rocks which outcrop within the limits of this county, as before stated, belong to the coal measures, and the actual exposures are confined, for the most part, to a thickness of about 60 or 80 feet of the middle portion of the formation. In the whole county there is but one boring which affords an artificial section of the beds down to the base of this formation. This one is that made by Voris & Co. on the bottom lands of the Illinois river directly opposite the city of Peoria. The first bed of the coal measures which is met with in the boring is about 40 feet below the lower coal seam, which is worked in this section, No. 4 of the Illinois river section as given by Prof. Worthcn. The following is a section of the first 459 feet of the boring. Below that depth the records kept by Messrs. Voris & Co. were not completed as to the thickness and material of all the different beds :

As nearly as the limits of the formation can be made out from this section it may be referred to the coal measure. The greatest depth reached in boring was 774 feet, and the lowest rock was a gray, porous limestone, the fragments of which, brought up by the instruments, were exactly similar in appearance to some of the upper limestones of the Niagara group, exposed in the northern part of the State, with which formation this bed may doubtless be properly identified.

Passing up a small branch which comes down through the bluffs from the southward, just back of the village of Fond du Lac, we observe a striking exposure, of about 25 feet of verticle thickness, of concretionary sandstone, sandy shale and soft sand rock. The more shaly beds contain numerous ironstone concretions, and the more massive portions, indistinct vegetable impressions, but no other fossils. Along the Illinois river bluffs, between Fond du Lac and Wesley City, there are several points where coal is now or has been worked. In the vicinity of Pekin there are but few natural exposures of the underlying rocks, but the lower coal is mined at several points in the neighborhood of the city. At Mr. Hawley's place, about 5 miles southeast of Pekin, a shaft was sunk which passed through both the upper and lower coals, affording a section of the intermediate beds, which, as reported to us, was as follows :

In the central and eastern portions of the county there are a few localities where borings, etc., have been made, but satisfactory records, in all cases, could not be obtained in regard to the variations in the strata. - At Ropp's mills, near the centre of the north line of section 20, Elm Grove township, a shaft was sunk to the depth of 85 feet, and, as it was reported to us, struck limestone at that depth. The shaft, however, was abandoned before completion, on account of keeping it free from water. At Delavan, in the southeastern part of the county, a boring was made which was reported to have passed through 60 feet of sandstone, and below that, 75 feet more of arenaceous and argillaceous shales. No coal was reported in this boring.

We find by the boring opposite Peoria, by Voris & Co., two seams of coal at the depths of 120 and 230 feet, and respectively 4 and 3 feet in thickness, which are most probably the equivalents of Nos. 1 and 3 of the general sections referred to. Although we have no positive data as to the existence of these or other beds under the coal No. 4 in other portions of the county, yet, from their existence at this point, and from our general knowledge of the coal measure in this portion of the State, it seems quite probable that these seams of coal might be found at the proper depth in other portions of this and adjoining counties. A boring of from 200 to 250 feet below the known horizon of No. 4, or from 500 to 700 feet below the surface in different parts of the State, would probably penetrate all the coal measures, and settle all the questions in regard to the existence and development of the underlying coal seams.

Building Materials

This county is not abundantly supplied with building stone; Along the Illinois river, however, the sandstones of the Coal Measures have been quarried to some extent to supply local demand.

and in some localities appear to afford a stone suitable for foundation, cellar walls, etc. The limestone beds which also occur in the Coal Measure strata in this region, though generally of inconsiderable thickness, may also furnish a limited supply for the same purpose, as well as for the manufacture of lime. Dimension stone etc. when used in this county are brought from beyond its limits, in great measure from the quarries at Joliet.

Clay and loam suitable for the manufacture of a fair quality of red brick, are found here and have been made use of in all the different towns in the limits of the county. Sand for building purposes is also sufficiently abundant.

Mineeal Springs

We may properly mention again under this head, the artesion well sunk by Messrs. Voris & Co. on the edge of the bottom land along the Illinois river opposite Peoria, in which a current of water, holding in solution sulphuretted hydrogen, was struck at a depth of 734 feet. When struck it was stated to have had a head of 60 or 70 feet, and the flow is said to be nearly as strong at the present time. This water appears to be derived from the upper portion of the Niagara group, but before the boring had reached its present depth a strong current of saline water was met with, at a distance from the surface of 317 feet.

Copperas and saline springs occur in various places in the county, and occasionally give names to some of the minor streams. Such names as Salt creek, and Lick creek, occur here, as in other portions of the State. These springs, however, are few in number, and can hardly be considered of any economic value.

Chapter Zoology And Botany

MANY of the various species of animals that roamed the native prairies of Tazewell county, or made their homes in the wild forests within its borders, and lived undisturbed and free from the haunt of the hound or the crack of the hunter's rifle, are gone from this section forever. Not even a specimen is preserved in taxidermy. The buffalo which grazed upon the verdant prairies has been driven westward. With or before it went the beaver, elk, badger, panther, black wolf and black bear. Some animals that were quite numerous have become very rare, such as the gray fox, the catamount, otter, lynx, and the beautiful Virginia deer.

There still remain many of the different species, mostly inhabiting the country adjacent to the Illinois river and a few of the other larger streams. These are, however, fast disappearing, and ere long will be known only in history, as are the deer, the beaver, and the bison. Among those still to be found here are the gray wolf, which is numerous in some parts, the opossum, raccoon, mink, muskrat, the common weasel, the small brown weasel, skunk, woodchuck, or Maryland marmot, prairie mole, common shrew mole, meadow and deer mouse, and the gray rabbit. Of squirrels there are the gray timber squirrel, the fox, chipmunk, the large, gray prairie squirrel, the striped and the spotted prairie squirrel, and the beautiful flying squirrel. The dark brown and the reddish bat are common. Other small animals have been found here which have strayed from other localities.

Of the 5,000 existing species of birds many have sojourned in this county, some temporarily, and others for a considerable time. Many migratory species come only at long intervals, and therefore but little is known of them.

There is not a more fascinating study than that aiforcled by our feathered friends. Their free movements through seemingly boundless space, the joyous songs of many, and the characteristic tones of all, their brilliant colors, their lively manners, and their wonderful instincts, have from earliest ages made a strong impression on the minds of men, and in the infancy of intellect gave rise to many peculiar and mysterious associations. Hence the flight of birds was made the foundation of a peculiar art of divination. Religion borrowed many symbols from them and poetry many of its ornaments. Birds avail themselves of their powers of wing to seek situations adapted for them in respect to temperature and supply of food. The arrival of summer birds is always a welcome sign of advancing spring, and is associated with all that is cheerful and delightful. Some birds come almost at the same date annually ; others are more influenced by the character of the season, as mild or severe.

Perchers. - This order of birds is by far the most numerous, and includes nearly all those which are attractive either in plumage or in song. The ruby-throated humming-bird, with -its exquisite plumage and almost ethereal existence, is at the head of the list. This is the humming-bird which is always the delight of the children, and is the only one found in Illinois. The chimney swallow, easily known from other swallows by its very long wings and forked tail, and which is a true swift, is quite numerous. Of the whippoorwill family there are two representatives, - the whippoorwill proper, whose note enlivens the forest at night, and the night-hawk. The belted king-fisher, so well known to the school boy, is the only member of its family in this region. At the head of the fly-catchers is the king-bird, the crested fly-catcher and the wood pewee.

Of the sub-order of singers there are the following : The robin, the wood thrush, Wilson's thrush, the blue-bird, the ruby-crowned and the golden-crested wren, tit-lark, the black and the white creeper, blue yellow-backed warbler, yellow-breasted chat, wormeating warbler, blue-winged yellow warbler, Tennessee warbler, and golden-crowned thrush. Shrike family. - This family is represented by the great northern shrike, red-eyed fly-catcher, white-eyed fly-catcher, the blue-headed and the yellow-throated fly-catcher. Swallow family. - This family of birds are very numerous in Tazewell county. Among them are the barn swallow, white-bellied swallow, bank swallow, clifF swallow, and purple martin. Wax-wing family. - The cedar bird is the representative of the wax-wing in America. Mocking-bird family. - The genera of this family are the cat-bird, brown thrush, the house and winter wren. Finch and Sparrow family. - The snow bunting and Smith's bunting appear only in winter. The purple finch, the yellow bird and the lark finch inhabit this county. Of the passerine genus of this family are the Savannah sparrow, the field and the chipping sparrow, the black snow-bird, the tree sparrow, the song sparrow, the swamp and the fox-colored sparrow, the black-throated bunting, the rose-breasted gros-beak and the ground robin. Titmome family - are represented by the chickadee and the tufled titmouse. Creeper family. - There are two specimens of this family, - the whitebellied nut-hatch and the American creeper. Skylark family. - This melodious family is represented here by only the common skvlark of the prairie. Black-bird family. - The rusty blackbird, the crow blackbird, the cow-bird, the red-winged blackbird, the meadow lark, the orchard and the Baltimore orioles of this family, are the most beautiful and brilliant of birds that inhabit this region. Crow family. - The blue-jay and the common crow comprise the species of this family.

Birds of Prey. - This order of birds comprises all those, with few exceptions, which pursue and capture birds and other animals for food. They are mostly of large size, the females are larger than the males, they live in pairs, and choose their mates for life. Most raptorial birds have disappeared. Among them are the golden eagle, which was always rare but now no longer seen here ; the bald eagle, or properly the white-headed eagle, once quite common, now scarce. Some well preserved specimens of this genus are in the county. This eagle enjoys the honor of standing as our national emblem. Benjamin Franklin lamented the selection of this bird as emblematical of the Union, for its great cowardice. It has the ability of ascending in circular sweeps without any apparent motion of the wings or the tail, and it often rises in this manner until it disappears from view ; when at an immense height, and as if observing an object on the ground, it sometimes closes its wings, and glides toward the earth with such velocity that the eye can scarcely follow it, causing a loud rustling sound like a violent gust of wind among the branches of the forest. The Hawk family are eight or nine species, some but seldom seen, others common. The turkey-buzzard has almost, if not quite, disappeared. Of the owl genera are several species, though all are but seldom seen because of their nocturnal habits. Among them are the barn owl, the screech owl, the long and the short-eared owl, the barred owl, and the snowy owl, the latter being the rarest.

Climbers. - But few of this order remain in the county, the most common of which are the woodpeckers. Of the various kinds are the golden-winged, the pileated, the hairy, the downy, the yellowbellied, red-bellied and the red-headed. At an early day the Carolina parrot was often seen, but he has now entirely deserted this section. The yellow and black-billed cuckoos are occasionally seen.

Scratchers. - This order contains but few genera in this county. The wild turkey, the choicest of game, has almost entirely disappeared, and was the only one of its family that ever sojourned here. In an early day they were in abundance. Grouse family. - The chiefest among this family is the prairie chicken, which, if not carefully protected, must ere long follow the wild turkey, never to return. The ruffied grouse, wrongfully called " pheasant," has of late made its appearance. It is quite fond of cultivated fields, and, if properly protected and encouraged until it becomes fairly settled, will make a fine addition to the game, and fill the place of the prairie chicken. Partridge family. - The fate of that excellent bird, the quail, is only a question of a short time. The Dove family. - The wild pigeons continue to make their semi-annual visits, but not in such vast numbers as years ago. Acres of forest were so often filled at night with these birds that the breaking of boughs and the flying of pigeons made a noise that could be heard for miles, and the shot of a sportsman's gun could not be heard at a distance of ten feet. Highly interesting is the description by Audubon of the enormous flights which he observed on the Ohio in the fall of 1813; they obscured the daylight and lasted three days without interruption. According to a very moderate estimate of his, each flight contained the stupendous number of one billion, one hundred and fifteen thousand million, one hundred and thirty-six thousand pigeons. These flights caused a general commotion among the entire rural population. Desirous of booty and anxious lest their crops should be spoiled, the farmers, arming themselves with rifles, clubs, poles, torches and iron pots filled with sulphur, proceed to the resting-places of the birds. The work of slaughter being accomplished, every- body sat down among mountains of dead pigeons, plucking and salting the birds which they selected, abandoning the rest to the foxes, wolves, raccoons, opossums and hogs, whole herds of which were driven to the battle field. The plaintive notes of the Carolina dove, commonly known as the turtle-dove, are still heard.

Swimmers. - This order of birds, which formerly frequented this county in large numbers, have almost disappeared. They are migratory, and in their usual season would appear coming from the north or south, as winter passes into summer or summer into winter.

Diver family. - The great northern diver or loon, sometimes visits this section, but inhabits the frigid zone. Gull family. - Of this family are Wilson's tern and the silvery gull. Pelican family, - The rough-billed pelican was the only genus of this family that ever stopped in Tazewell county, and it has now altogether ceased to make its visits here. Cormorant family. - The double-crested cormorant, or sea raven, has been seen here. Duck family. - This family of migratory birds visited the ponds and streams of this county in large numbers before it became so thickly settled, both on their northern and southern passage, but now mostly confine themselves to the Illinois, where large numbers are found. This family furnishes most game for sportsmen and for the table. There are the wood duck, the big black-headed duck, the ring-necked duck, the redhead, the canvas-back, the dipper, the sheldrake or goosander, the fish duck, the red-breasted, and the hooded merganser, the mallard and the pintail, the green-winged and the blue-winged teal, the spoonbill and the gadwall, the baldpate, the American swan, the trumpeter swan and the white-fronted goose.

Waders. - Probably less is known of this order of birds than of any other, because of their slyness and solitary habits. They frequented the marshes, but cultivation has drained their favorite haunts. Crane family. - The whooping crane, always rare, is now never seen. The sandhill cranes stop on their journeys north and south. Heron family. - The great blue heron or crane, least bittern, the green heron, night heron and the American bittern, compose those of this family visiting this region. Ibis family. - The glossy ibis has been seen here. Plover family. - The golden plover, the killdeer and the king plover comprise this family known here. Phalarope family. - The Wilson's and the red phalarope have frequented the swamps of this county. Snipe family. - Various birds of this family have been common in and around the swamps of this county. Among them were Wilson's snipe, gray or red-breasted snipe, the least and the semi-palmated sandpiper, the willett, the tell-tale, the yellow-leg, the solitary sandpiper, the spotted sandpiper, the field plover, long-billed curlew, the common rail, the clapper rail or mud hen, and the coot.

Reptiles. - All of the species of this class that ever inhabited this region are still to be found here except the poisonous snakes. The rattlesnake, of the genus crotalus, is of a yellowish brown color, and has a series of horny joints at the end of the tail, which make a rattling sound. These were the most venomous of all snakes found here, and were numerous in the early settlement. There are two kinds, the bandy or striped and the prairie rattlesnake, the latter being still occasionally found. The copperhead was always rare. Among the harmless snakes are the water-snake, the garter-snake, the bull-snake, the milk snake, the black-snake, and the blue racer.

Many reptiles found here are erroneously called lizards, but are salamanders and other like innocent creatures. Lizards are never found in this county. Among the tortoises or turtles are found the map turtle, the snapping and the soft-shelled turtle. Of the batra- . chian, or naked reptiles, there are a few, and, though loathsome to sight and touch, are harmless. The toad, the bull-frog, the leopard frog, the tree toad, with some tailed batrachia, comprise the most of this order.

Although fishes are the lowest class of vertebrates, their varied forms and colors, which often rival those of precious stones and burnished gold, the wonderful power and velocity of some, the wholesome food furnished by many, and the exciting sport of their capture, combine to render fishes subjects of great interest to the casual observer, as well as to the amateur and professional naturalist. The number of known species of fishes is about ten thousand. The waters of this county are quite prolific of the finny tribe. The commerce in fish has become quite extensive along the Illinois. Sickle-backed family. - This family furnishes the game fish, and are never caught larger than four pounds in weight. The various genera found here are the black bass, goggle-eye, the croppy, or big black sun-fish, and the two common sun-fish. Pilce family. - There is but one species of this family, the pickerel, which is caught weighing from five to twenty-five pounds. Sucker family. - Of this tribe are the buffalo, red-horse, white sucker, two species of blacksuckers, mullet ranick. Fish of this family are found in all the streams of the county. They abound wherever there is water. Cat-fish family. - Of this voracious family the channel cat-fish, the mud cat-fish and two species of the small cat-fish inhabit the waters of this county, and are caught ranging in weight from one to thirty pounds. Besides these varieties there are the chub, silver-sides and fresh-water herring, and large numbers of other species denominated minnows, which are found in the smallest spring branches, as well as the larger streams.

Botany

There are probably over 500 species of plants growing spontaneously within the bounds of Tazewell county, but we will not attempt to give a complete list of the herbaceous plants, or indeed name any of the mosses, mushrooms, etc.

Trees And Shrubs

While Nature has not given a great quantity of these, she has furnished a liberal variety. In this respect Tazewell county is in advance of most of the Northern States. No one or two species of tree monopolizes the ground in the forests, as they do in many sections of the United States. Some of the less hardy shrubs, like the wild prairie flowers, are slowly disappearing before the encroachments of civilization, yet we shall endeavor to enumerate them all, as well as the trees.

Oak Family. - The White Oak is king of the forest trees in this country in respect to grandeur, strength and general utility, and in early day afforded "mast," a first-class feed, for hogs running at large. Those which wintered in the wild woods were often fat enough for market in the spring, although not fed a grain by human hand. The Burr Oak is a fine tree, with a rich and beautifully cut foliage. The wood is valuable, and the acorns are sweet. They are buried in deep, mossy cups, whence the tree is also called " overcup oak." The Swamp White Oak is a tall tree and grows in low grounds. The Yellow Chestnut Oak is a tree of medium height and has leaves like those of the chestnut. The Laurel Oak is a very common tree on gentle slopes of ground, having the leaves undivided and somewhat like laural leaves in appearance : whence the name. In the days before the railroads brought pine so plentic^^^"^ fully into this prairie country, the people found this one of the best trees for making shingles : whence it is also called " shingle oak." Barren Oak, or " black jack," is found mostly in sandy barrens. It seldom exceeds 25 feet in height. Leaves, wedge-shaped and threelobed. Black Oak, or "yellow oak," has the inner bark yellower than the other oaks have, and is valuable for dyeing and tanning. Externally the bark is very rough and almost black. The tree is large and quite common. Red Oak is a tall, handsome tree on northern hill-sides and in shady woods. The acorn cup is flat and saucer-shaped. Swamp Spanish Oak, or " pin oak," is found, but is scarce. The tree is much like red oak, but is not so tall. All the white-barked oaks decay on the outside first, and all the blackbarked varieties decay first on the inside. Hence rails made of any of the black oaks have a hard exterior and seem sound long after all the inside is rotten, thus being very deceptive ; but white-oak rails last many years longer in the fence. The up-land black oaks make a hotter fire than any other kind of wood. The Hazel-nut and two species of Iron-wood belong also to the oak family, botanically speaking. The iron-wood, which is also called "American hornbeam," "blue beech," and "water beech," is a beautiful tree, but is scarce. The more common species have the seeds of the appearance of hops.

Birch Family. - The Red Birch is the only member of this family found in Tazewell county. The outer bark peels itself off horizontally around the trunk and limbs, like that of the cherry.

Willow Family. - The Prairie Willow is small, and was very common before the white man's plow deprived it of its native home. The Glaucous Willow grows 8 to 10 feet high, and is common. The Black Willow grows 15 to 25 feet high, twigs brittle at the base, bark of the trunk somewhat black, and the leaves pointed at each end. Common. The Long-leaved Willow occurs, growing generally as a small shrub. The Shining Willow, and possibly one or two other species, can be found. To the AVillow Family belong also the Quaking Asp, or Aspen, the Cotton-wood, the Silverleaf Poplar, Lombardy Poplar, and Balm-of-Gilead, all of which grow spontaneously in this county, although the last three have been introduced by the settlers. Of the Aspen there are two kinds, - The American and the Large-toothed. The poplars and the Balm-of-Gilead have a great tendency to sprout from the roots. The Lombardy poplar does not prosper well in this windy country. It grows too tall.

Walnut Family. - The Black Walnut is a large, noble and most valuable tree, too well known to need description. It is yet "common " in this county. A few Butternuts, or " white walnut " are also found. The wood is of a lighter color and more brittle than that of black walnut. It is now being used for veneering. Of the Shellbark Hickory there are two kinds, - one with a scaly bark and furnishing most of our hickory-nuts in the market, and the other with a smoother bark and lighter heart-wood, and bearing the largest kind of hickory-nut. The Bitter-nut Hickory is very common.

Plane-tree Family. - The only representative in America is the Button-wood, or " Sycamore, " a large, coarse, white-barked tree common in river " bottoms, " but is of little value.

Nettle Family. - At the head of this family stands the American or White Elm. Although so common in the forest, it promises to become one of the most popular ornamental or shade trees. The Red Elm (" slippery-elm ") is scarce. Called " red " on account of having red heart-wood, while the white elm has white heart-wood. The Hackberry is a beautiful tree of full forest height, hardy and tough. The Mulberry is very scarce.

Rose Family. - The Crab-apple, Wild Plum, Wild Black Cheery and Red Haw (two species) are abundant, - the cherry on high land and the rest along the streams. There are also found the Chokecherry, Nine-bark (a shrub), Black Raspberry, Blackberry, (and possibly the Dewberry), Chokeberry, two species of wild rose (Early and Dwarf), and a very few June-berry. The Blackberry has been very abundant, but its ground the farmer finds more valuable for corn. The other berries are very scarce. The Dwarf Wild Rose used to ornament the prairies, especially their margins, but there is scarcely any room left now-a-days for the modest little thing by the rough hand of agriculture.

Maple Family. - The White Maple, commonly called "soft maple," is by far the most abundant, especially as a shade-tree in the towns and villages ; but is soft and brittle and the limbs are easily broken off by the wind, so that it is now about to be abandoned as a shade or ornamental tree. As an example of the adaptability of the prairie to the growth of timber, we may refer to the fact that the first settlers here 30 to 40 years ago planted the common locust ; and after it grew up 20 to 35 feet high the worms and the winds made an unsightly tree of it, and the white maple (acer dasycarpum) was next resorted to, which has already attained the height of 40 and 50 feet, with top and trunk in due proportion. Box Elder and Sugar Maple (both members of this family) and white elm are now being substituted, thus making the third crop of good sized forest trees raised on the prairies within the short space of civilized life here. The Sugar, or "hard," Maple makes the most beautiful and durable shade-tree, as well as ornamental tree, but it is of slow growth. Indeed duribility and slowness of growth necessarily go together. Box Elder is of a scrubby form, and the least esteemed of the three most popular shade trees. As members of this family there are also the Bladder-nut, a beautiful little bush, and the Buckeye, a a tree of heavy foliage, soft wood, and large, poisonous nuts, and growing only in the river bottoms. Like the currant, it sheds its leaves in August,

Linden Familu. - Bass-wood evervbodv knows. It is also called "white-wood," " linden," and " lime-tree," and in the Southern States it is known by the name of " lin," from its old European name lind, which gave the family name to the great Linnaeus, the father of botanists.

Rue Family. - The Prickly Ash used to be a common bush or shrub, but is now fast disappearing. It is characterized by a very rank and pungent odor and taste, is covered with short briers or thorns, and bears a small brown berry. The Hop-tree, or " wafer ash," is a small tree sometimes met with.

Cashew Family, or Sumachs. - The Smooth Sumach is by far the most abundant, growing even as weeds upon prairie farms. The Fragrant Sumach and the Poison Ivy are also to be found in Tazewell county.

Buck-thorn Family. - Red-root, or New Jersey tea, was abundant in the margin of the uncultivated prairies, but is pretty well destroyed at the present day. A decoction of its leaves has been employed as a substitute for China tea. Possibly a species of common Buck-thorn may be found in this county.

Staff-tree Family. - Burning-bush (" waahoo ") is a beautiful bush, sometimes cultivated for the fine show of odd-shaped crimson berries it displays after the leaves have fallen off. The Climbing Bittersweet is also to be found in this county ; but at the most is exingly rare.

by bearing pods of seeds like beans. The Red-bud is a shrubby kind of tree, and, contrary to waahoo, displays a red top in early spring, before leaves appear on it or any other tree. The color is a beautiful crimson, and is made by the buds and flowers. The Honey Locust is famous for its large thorns and long pods, the inner border of the latter containing a large quantity of a sweet substance which tastes something like honey. A species or variety is said to occur which has but few thorns, if any. A few specimens of the Kentucky Coffee-tree grow in this county. The seeds of this tree are of the size of gum-drops, and have a hard, glossy, beautiful shell. A small shrub often called "swamp locust '^ is probably False Indigo.

Dogwood Family. - Four species of Dogwood flourish here, the most abundant of which is the Panijcled Cornel, bearing white berries about the size of peas.

Honeysuckle Family. - The most "extensive individual" of this family is the common Elder, growing like weeds in gardens and farms. The Yellow Honeysuckle and Sweet Viburnum, or " sheepberry," are found in this vicinity, but are exceedingly rare. The Black Haw is a common bush, averaging 10 feet in height, and producing very edible sweet fruit.

Olive Family. - It would sound more natural to Westerners to call this the Ash family, as the ash is the principal representative here. The White Ash is the most prevalent kind, and is valuable on account of its strength, hardness, durability and freedom from warping, as well as its quality for making a blazing fire. The Blue Ash is about as good. Distinguished from the White by having square twigs. Perhaps two other species of ash can be found in the county, - the Green and the Swamp.

Herbaceous Plants

We will name only about 200 of the most common, growing spontaneously, and give them, as nearly as we can conveniently estimate, in the order of their abundance, the more common first :

Grmoing Wild. - Besides several species each of grass, sedge, ferns, aster, golden-rod, wild sunflower, evening primrose, cone-flower, fleabane, cinquefoil, tick trefoil, violet, crowfoot, milk-weed, cress, loosestrife, and beggar's lice, there are the sneeze-weed, wood sorrel, wild bergaraot, strawberry, wild cranesbill, boneset, spring beauty, clear-weed, arrow-head, tick-seed, blue cardinal flower, May apple, self-heal, scouring rush, spider-wort, ginseng, sweet William (two species), meadow parsnip (two or three species), cow-bane, wild onion, louse- wort, vetchling, ditch stone-crop, cardinal flower, milkvetch, three-seeded mercury, pepper root, wild-mint, spotted touchme-not, soft rush (and probably one or two other species of rush), rue anemone, liver-leaf, marsh marigold, early meadow rue, bloodroot, Indian turnip, mitre-wort, white and purple trilliums, cat-tail flag, cup-plant, everlasting, avens, bell-flower, ox-eye, blue-joint grass, white lettuce, hawk-weed, lobelia (medical), gentian, yellow adder's tongue, harbinger of spring, skull-cap, hare-bell, stone-root, groundsel, catch-fly, false Solomon's seal, Gerardia (two species), dodder, wild senna, wood sage, American pennyroyal, wood nettle, black snake-root, water plantain, rattle-snake master, Dutchman's breeches, button suake-root, Solomon's seal, blue cohosh, Seneca snake-root, bastard toad-flax, arrow-leaved tear-thumb, iron-weed, water star-grass, peppermint, Greek valerian, trumpet-weed, hop, bell-wort, rosin-weed, prairie dock.

Growing in Cultivated and Waste Places. - Blue-grass, white clover, dandelion, water smart- weed, hog- weed (" rag- weed"), plantain, door-weed ("goose-grass," two species), sneeze-weed, wire-grass, panic-grass (several species), fox-tail grass, hair-grass ("ticklegrass"), spear-grass, shepherd's purse, green pig- weed, Spanish needle (three species), chick-weed, purslane, common smart- weed. May -weed, goose-foot ("lamb's-quarter"), ground ivy, blue vervain, hedge mustard, yarrow, nightshade, cinquefoil (two species), mild water-pepper, mallow, burdock, white pig-weed (" tumble-weed "), wild sunfloAver (several species), mother-wort, black mustard, chenopodium urbicum and murale, Euphorbia maculata, orchard grass, wood sorrel, polygonum Pennsylvanicum, clear-weed, wild peppergrass, black bindweed, barnyard grass, biennial wormwood, sow thistle (?) (two species), scurvy grass, convolvulus bindweed (three species?), catnip, cockle-bur, common thistle, three-seeded mercury, toad-flax, false red-top (grass), fescue (grass), jimson-weed, red-top (grass), red clover, bouncing Bet, curled dock (" yellow dock "), mullein, great rag-weed ("horse-weed"), white vervain, timothy, cirsiiim altissiraum, Indian mallow, ground cherry, hemp, fetid marigold, cut-weed, bugle-weed, wire-grass (two species), swamp milkweed, horse-tail, green milk-weed, morning-glory, speedwell, silkweed, hop, scrophularia nodosa, verbena Aubletia hoary vervain, climbing false buckwheat, wild balsam-apple, sida, hedge nettle, fire-wood, tansy, chess, wild rye, buckwheat, white sweet clover, asparagus, white mustard, poke, prince's feather (polygonum oriental e).

All plants growing in cultivated and waste grounds, except four or five repeated in each of the above lists, may be considered as introduced by Anglo-Saxon civilization. While the wild plants in the woods are supposed to be the same now as originally, the prairie has changed its grassy clothing for cultivated crops and hundreds of different weeds. Before settlement by the whites the prairie was mostly covered by one kind of grass. Several other kinds could be found, especially in places here and there, notably the blue-joint, which grew the tallest of any. Along the sloughs and in other wet places there was the slough grass and several species of golden rod, aster and wild sunflower. All other kinds of weeds were scarce. Here and there were patches of rosin weed. But the golden-rod, aster, and sunflower made beautiful yellow stripes across the prairies in low places, which were peculiarly charming. In the earliest stages of the growth of prairie grass it was interspersed with little flowers - the violet, strawberry -blossom and others of the most delicate structure. Soon these disappeared, and taller flowers, displaying more lively colors, took their place, and still later, a series of still higher, but less delicately formed flowers appeared. While the grass was green the prairies were adorned with every imaginable variety of color. In the summer the plants grew taller and the colors more lively ; in autumn another generation of flowers came. A poetess beautifully writes : age the best of any ; but where live stock are kept oif this grass it will be eradicated by other kinds of grass. A curious fact similar to this, and of interest to botanists, is the eradication of the Mayweed along the road-sides by hog-weed, smart-weed, and Spanishneedles. Possibly this has been aided by the greater amount of wet weather for a few years past.

The most troublesome weeds which are on the increase at the present time are the common and the tall thistle, Indian mallow, toad-flax, wild lettuce or sow thistle, and jimson-weed. Clear-weed and mercury are becoming abundant in the gardens and door-yards where shade trees are plentiful, but they are not troublesome.