Often it was one man, one animal, against nature. Man versus nature was the
epic theme of pioneer days.


14


    Necessity, and a prudent forecast on the part
pioneer, indicate the importance of growing a crop a~i
as possible, for with his grounds broken and sown, thi
winter will afford ample time to procure his fencing:
rials, even through his timbered land is a half dozen of.
distant from the farm he is making; and the following
finds a field well enclosed, with the appearance of havin
under cultivation a half century.
     In the early settlements of the prairie country
stacles in the way of rapidly and easily breaking prair~i
somewhat numerous and formidable. Some of the p
ones may be mentioned. --First, the tenacity and strenl
the prairie sward, arising from the ten thousand wii
fibrous roots, interlaced and interwoven in every conce
manner. --Second, the red root, so called. This is a!
bulbous mass of wood or root, gnarled and hard, very
resembling cherry timber in color and density. When
live state, it sends up annually a twig or shoot similar t
willow, which is destroyed by the prairie fires, so th!
tree or shrub is formed, while the root continues tol
and attains a diameter of six, eight, and sometimes t
inches. These roots are found usually in a given neigi
hood, while other sections of country are entirely free
them. --Third, in locations where recent improvements
scribe limits to the annual burning of the prairie and i
neighborhood of the groves, hazel bushes spring up, for
a thicket that are called "hazel roughs" by those who I
prairie.