VMA» 



*u'*-. 



CONTENTS 



FOREWORD by The Rt. Hon. Lord Hailey, Director of the African Research 

 Survey page v 



AUTHOR'S PREFACE page vii 



NOTE ON REFERENCES page x 



ILLUSTRATIONS AND MAPS page xv 



Chapter I. SOME PROBLEMS OF RESEARCH page i 



Interrelations between branches of science. Outline of the principal changes 

 taking place in the African environment. Land Planning. Co-ordination and 

 Centralization of Research. Finance and Agencies for Research. VV'aste of 

 Research. Conclusion 



Chapter II. SURVEYS AND MAPS page 25 



Introduction — the value of survey in development. Organization — territory 

 by territory. Finance. Staff and Training — European and African. Results 

 in geodetic triangulation, including arc of the thirtieth meridian; topography 

 and publication of maps. Air Survey — its special uses in Africa 



Chapter III. GEOLOGY page 61 



Introduction — the value of geological surveys. Organization — territory by 

 territory. Results — geological mapping and publications. Hydrology and 

 Water-supply. Geophysical Prospecting — especially for water; different methods 

 in use. Geophysics and Palaeontology 



Chapter IV. METEOROLOGY page 88 



Introduction — the utilization of climatic conditions and the prevision of weather 

 changes; need for uniformity in the collection of data; the development of air 

 routes. Organization and Results — region by region. Changes of Climate. 

 Alleged Progressive Desiccation. Bioclimatology — the effects of climate on 

 plant and animal life. Meteorology and Medicine — the effects of climate on 

 (a) insects and other carriers of disease; (b) the human system 



Chapter V. SOIL SCIENCE page 123 



Introduction — soil problems in the tropics; the value of soil surveys. Organiza- 

 tion and Results — territory by territory. Deterioration and Erosion of Soils — 

 the nature of the problem and its importance throughout Africa; the factors 

 leading to soil erosion: (a) natural; (b) human. Soil Biology — the importance 

 of bacteria, protozoa, etc.; the effects of termites on soil fertility 



Chapter VL BOTANY page 143 



Introduction — the relationship between botany and other subjects. Organiza- 

 tion — territory by territory. Results — region by region: taxonomy, plant 

 ecology, swamp vegetation and water-supply, plant poisons and medicinal 

 herbs. Pasture Research. Plant Breeding and Plant Patholog)\ Preservation 

 of Flora — the changing vegetation of Africa; reserves for indigenous flora 



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