GEOGRAPHY'S CONTRIBUTION 219 
aware of their responsibility in providing more factual knowledge 
“to serve as a proper foundation for schemes of improvement and 
development, especially in those areas which are commonly re- 
garded as underdeveloped.”’* Both as a body professional and as 
individuals, geographers have brought their efforts to bear on the 
specific problems of water resources and arid lands. But the solu- 
tion of these problems can be accomplished only by a concerted 
action of specialists in many fields. Geography, not only can 
furnish the necessary background against which to plan such 
integrated action, but has also accumulated valuable experience 
in the unique function of bringing together, in a coherent and 
organic body of knowledge, the facts imparted by specialists in 
the most diverse fields of the social and the natural sciences. 
Nore on Itiusrrations: With one exception, all photographs were 
taken by the author in July, 1951. Figure 4 was taken in January, 1951, 
by Roberto Maia, and is reproduced by courtesy of O Cruzeiro. 
REFERENCES 
1. Aguiar, Francisco Gongalves de. 1941. Acude Curema-Mae D’Agua, 
Bol. da Inspectorta Federal de Obras Contra as Sécas 15, No. 1, p. 6. 
2. Almeida, José Américo de. 1923. 4 Parahyba e seus Problemas, 
Parahyba, Imprensa Official, p. 325. 
3. Almeida, Jos¢ Américo de. 1954. Report read before the Chamber of 
Deputies, Didrio do Congresso Nacional, (Secao I), (January 14), 
p. 64. 
4. Berredo, Vinictus. 1950. Obras Contra as Sécas, Rio de Janeiro, 
Ministério da Viacao e Obras Publicas, Departamento Nacional de 
Obras Contra as Sécas, p. 31. 
5. Lisboa. Miguel Arrojado. 1913. O Problema das Sécas, Annaes da 
Bibliotheca Nacional do Rio de Faneiro 30, 132. 
6. Netto, José Oriano Menescal. 1942. Irrigagdo no Cariry Cearense, 
paper presented to the Segunda Reunido Regional de Economia Ru- 
ral, Fortaleza (January). 
7. Russell, Richard J. 1932. Dry Climates of the United States: IT. 
Frequency of Dry and Desert Years, 1g01-1920. Univ. Calif. Publ. 
Geogr. 5, 245-74. 
Russell, Richard J. 1934. Climatic Years, Geogr. Rev. 24, No. 1 
g2-103. 
b) 
* Conclusions and proposals from the December 1949 meeting of the 
Commission appointed by the International Geographical Union, to 
consider the institution of a world-wide survey of land use. 
