1902.] DAVIS— SYSTEMATIC GEOGRAPHY. 235 



SYSTEMATIC GEOGRAPHY. 



BY W. M. DAVIS. 

 {Read April 3, 1902.) 



1. Geography lacks System. 



2. The Value of Systematic Geography. 



3. The Content of Geography. 



4. Physiography and Ontography. 



5. Comparison of Geography with other Sciences. 



6. Subdivisions of Physiography. 



7. Classification of Land Forms. 



8. Physiographic Classification involves Explanation. 



9. Explanation involves Past History. 



10. Value of Ideal Geographical Types. 



11. Service of Deduction in Geography. 



12. Contrasts of Biological and Physiographical Classifications. 



13. Examples of Explanatory Description. 



14. Distinction of Geography from Geology. 



15. Dangers of Explanatory Description. 



16. Framework of Physiographic Classification. 



17. Complexity of Geography. 



18. Relation of Physiography and Ontography. 



19. Subdivisions of Ontography. 



20. Regional Geography. 



21. Conclusion. 



I. Geography lacks System. — Geography has not as yet taken so 

 much advantage from a systematic classification of the facts with 

 which it is concerned as is the case with the biological sciences. 

 The botanist or the zoologist is greatly aided in observation and in 

 description by the effort to refer every organic individual to its 

 proper place in a comprehensive scheme of classification, whereby 

 its relationships and its contrasts are most concisely set forth ; and 

 if he is for a time puzzled by a new species or by a form of uncer- 

 tain position, he does not for a moment waver in his belief in the 

 value of the principles of classification, but draws encouragement 

 from the aid that it has already given him and perseveres until the 

 systematic position of the new or uncertain species is made clear. 

 The geographer on the other hand makes no such habitual use of 



