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Burning of he Western Prairies. We have no means of determining at what period the fires first began to sweep over these plains, because we know not when they began to be inhabited. 1tis quite possible that they might have been occasionally fired by light

 ming, previous to the introduction of that ele- ment by human agency, At all events it is very evident that as soon as fire began to be used in this country by its inhabitants, the an nual burning of the prairies must have com menced. One of the peculiarities of this eli mate is the dryness of its summers and au- tumns. A drought often commences in Au- gust, which, with the exception of few showers towards the close of that month, continues throughout the fall season. The immense mass of vegitation with which this fertile soil loads itself during the summer, is suddenly withered, and the whole surface of the earth is covered with combnstible mate rals. This is especially true of the prairies, where the grass grows to the height of from six to ten feet, and being entirely exposed to the sun and wind, dries with great rapidity. A single spark of fire falling any where upon the plains, at such a time, would instantly kindle blaze that would spread on every side, and continue it's destructive course as long as it should find fuel. Travellers have described these fires as sweeping with a ra-

  fore them. Such is not the case, or is true only of few rare instances. The thick sward of the prairie presents considerable mass of fuel, and offers barrier to the progress of the flame, which is not easily surmounted.- The fire advances slowly, and with power.- The heat is intense. The flames often extend across a wide prairie, and advance in a long line. No sight can be more sublime, than to behold in the night, stream of several miles in breadth advancing across these wide plains, leaving behind it black cloud of smoke, and throwing before it a vivid glare which lights up the whole landscape with the brilliancy of noon day. A roaring and cracking sound is heard like the rushing of a hurricane. The fame which is general, rises to the height of about twenty feet, is seen sinking and darting upwards in spires, precisely as the waves dash against each other, and as the spray flies up into the air and the whole appear ance is often that of boiling, and flaming sea violently agitated. The progress of the fire is slow, and the heat so great that every con- bustibe object in it's course is consumed. We to the farmer whose ripe corn fields extend into the prairie, and who suffers the tall grass to grow in contact with his fences The whole labor of the year is swept away in a few hours. But such accidents are compara- lively unfrequent, as the preventive is simple and easily applied. d.-IIinois I1ag.