When the adventurers, who first penetrated these wilds, met, in the centre of the forests, immense plains, covered with rich verdure or rank grasses, they naturally gave them the appellation of meadows.

As the English succeeded the French, and found a peculiarity of nature, differing from all they had yet seen on the continent, already distinguished by a word that did not express any thing in their own language, they left these natural meadows in possession of their title of convention.

In this manner has the word "Prairie" been adopted into the English tongue.
The American prairies are of two kinds.

Those which lie east of the Mississippi are comparatively small, are exceedingly fertile, and are always surrounded by forests.

They are susceptible of high cultivation, and are fast becoming settled.