1902.] DAVIS— SYSTEMATIC GEOGRAPHY. 258 



graphic or mechanical — by which the framework shall always be at 

 his service for practical use. Its value will increase with every 

 step that is taken towards a vivid realization of its imaginary con- 

 tents. It may seem cumbersome as long as it is unfamiliar ; but 

 when it is familiarly known it becomes an indispensable aid in 

 practical work. 



17. Complexity of Geography. — The whole current of thought 

 changes when the ontographic half of geography is taken up. The 

 training that is here necessary must be gained largely through 

 biological study, while the training for the study of the earth as a 

 globe is associated with astronomy, for the atmosphere with physics, 

 for the oceans with hydrostatics and hydrodynamics, for the lands 

 with geology. Whether this diversity of discipline is an advantage 

 or not need not be answered ; it is certainly a necessity. It is 

 perhaps true that geography has, by reason of its many-sidedness, 

 a more complex content than any other science ; but if so it merely 

 occupies a rank that would be otherwise held by some other subject ; 

 and certainly there is no impropriety in standing at either end of 

 the list in this respect. Astronomy ranks well among the sciences, 

 yet it now calls for mathematical, physical and chemical discipline ; 

 and if the change of color on the face of Mars follows his seasons 

 it may be necessary to add a biological discipline as well. 



Some have feared that the various parts of geography might fall 

 asunder from their diversity of content and of discipline. So they 

 undoubtedly would, but for the bond of relationship that holds 

 them so strongly together. It may perhaps come to be wise for 

 the geographer to follow the example of those engaged in other 

 sciences and limit his attention to one part of his subject. Just as 

 there are mathematical and physical astronomers, inorganic, organic 

 and physical chemists, students of ancient, modern and many other 

 groups of languages, so there may advisedly be physiographers and 

 ontographers, instead of geographers ; but all this is of secondary 

 importance. Geography certainly has its inorganic and its organic 

 side, and both must be understood by any one who would claim to 

 be a thoroughly trained geographer, versed in the relationships by 

 which the physiographic and ontographic sides of the subject are 

 held together. The reason that so few persons can to-day rightly 

 claim such standing is not so much because there is any inherent 

 difficulty in the subject on account of its breadth and its complexity. 



