290 Fifth Conference 



through these hills; and, seeing that the 

 same was true of the rivers flowing south- 

 wards through the South Downs, the general 

 truth was boldly announced that Chalk ranges 

 do not form watersheds. The true history 

 of these rivers becomes clear to the student 

 when he considers the changes which in the 

 comparatively recent past must have oc- 

 curred in the Wealden area over which his 

 observation is now fixed. He builds over 

 again the dome of Chalk; this completed, 

 he has but one Chalk range instead of 

 two. The rivers flowing over this single 

 ridge northwards to the Thames and south- 

 wards to the Channel would carve out their 

 beds, and as by this process of river de- 

 nudation the valleys through which they 

 flowed would be deepened, a gradual up- 

 heaval of the Weald would enable them to 

 continue their work and flow. Allow this 

 double process of change, viz. the deepen- 

 ing of the river beds and upheaval of the 

 Weald to continue, until, by weathering, the 

 dome of Chalk has been completely removed, 

 and the student grasps the explanation of 

 the puzzle of these rivers appearing to break 

 through the Chalk ranges. 



There are other problems in descriptive and phy- 

 sical geography which claim attention in this journey, 

 and which cannot be explained except by actual visit. 

 I leave these, but repeat my ofl"er to conduct those 

 teachers who express their desire, over the field. An 



