Jan., 1906.] Physiography and Geography. 433 



curves, extending its course, and broadening its territory; its 

 relation to other streams, to lakes or the ocean. But in geogra- 

 phy the transportation facilities offered, the power made avail- 

 able, thfe possibilities for irrigation, city water supply, and park 

 and scenic uses, these are the subtopics. Its location, whither it 

 leads, what cities on its banks and why; the inter-relation and 

 the inter-action of man and the river, there are its interests. In 

 a similar way the plain and mountain, the sea and shoreline 

 receive different treatment in the course of the development of 

 the two subjects. 



These sciences, however, are not different from others in this 

 respect; for chemistry, geology and physics all deal with matter 

 and natural forces, and history, economics, and sociology all 

 study man's institutions. 



The difference between geography and physiography is one 

 of point of view. Physiography concerns itself with the descrip- 

 tion, and the classification of physiographic forms on the basis of 

 the cycle, process or the family; geography with the relations of 

 these same forms to man. In the former the principle is sys- 

 tematization ; in the latter, relation. For example, take a plain. 

 In physiography its characteristics are listed, its origin is deter- 

 mined, its age in its normal cycle of development, the processes 

 in operation upon it, and its relation to the surrounding topo- 

 graphic features. A comparison with other plains is made and 

 the types are discussed until the specific feature, say the coastal 

 plain of Alabama and Mississippi has been referred to its type 

 and class, to its variety and age. It may be called a belted 

 coastal plain, submaturely dissected in its inland portion and 

 less dissected and slightly drowned along the coast. Sys- 

 tematization is the objective. 



In geography the same plain comes up as the home of the 

 cotton growing industry. The especial adaptations to this 

 business and to others are discussed ; the features of the plain to 

 wdiich transportation responds, the location of its cities, roads 

 and ports, the distribution of its crops and minerals, population 

 and industries are shown to be related to its levelness, its belted 

 structure, its stage of dissection, and the position of its harbors 

 and other commercial outlets. In all these points it may be 

 compared with other plains. In these relations centers the 

 interest, and through their recognition comes the gain to the 

 student. 



This essential difference appears early in the study but 

 becomes clearer as each subject emerges from the high school 

 curriculum. Beginnings are made, and some facts learned, but 

 the complete organization of the truth pertaining to the science 

 can not be accomplished in elementary schools nor by immature 



