714 REPORT — 1897. 



FRIDAY, AUGUST 20. 



The following Papers and Report were read: — 



1. Scientific Gaography for Schools. By Richard E. Dodge, Professor of 

 Geography, Teachers' College, Neiv York City, U.S.A. 



This paper is a plea for the assistance of g-eographers in the improvement of 

 geography teaching in America, and particularly the United States. It open^; 

 with a general statement of the present condition of geography teaching and of 

 the lines of weakness. The aim of geography teaching being to make the pupils 

 able to gain geographic information for themselves as well as to train their minds 

 <ind store them with useful facts, the question arises as to how this aim is to he 

 secured. The writer pleads for scientitic geography based on a knowledge of the 

 home conditions. He urges that problems in geography be early introduced in 

 the school work, that the pupils may be trained, not only in observation and 

 inference, but in the proving of their inferences. He describes the work in 

 geography done by pupils of eight and nine years of age at the Teachers' College, 

 New York City, the work being carried on by teachers not speciallj' trained in 

 geography. 



In no study can scientific training be introduced as early as in geography, and 

 the value is inestimable. The need of the improvement is very apparent, and 

 scientific men should aid in the work. " 



Assistance can be given by publications of such a character and in such a place 

 that the teachers may come in contact with them and gain from them. There is 

 great need of lectures, and excursions for teachers under the care of scientific 

 geographers. Geographical appliances are in many cases poor and scanty. The 

 .aid of the scientitic geographer is needed in carrying out and elaborating in other 

 parts of the world the excellent plan of the Geographical Association of Great 

 Britain. 



There is also a great need of more publications showing the relation of geography 

 to history and culture, such publications being particularly applied to the needs of 

 teachers. 



In these and other ways scientific men can, if they will, assist the teachers to a 

 great extent. The writer urges the co-operation of all iu this important work. 



Eeport on, Geografhical Education. — See Reports, p. 370. 



3. Forestry in India. By Lieut.-Col. Fred. Bailey, late R.E. 



In early times the greater part of India was covered with forest, but the land 

 not cleared for cultivation was, for the most part, denuded by over-cutting and 

 over-grazing with burning. If denudation has not afl'ected the climate gene- 

 rall}-, it has without doubt resulted in the drying up of .springs and streams 

 rising within the areas deprived of the shelter of a crop of trees; and this is a 

 serious matter in connection with the question of irrigation by canals led from 

 rivers which are not snow-fed, as well as in localities where damage has resulted 

 Jrom the formation of ravines and torrents. The permanence of the supply of 

 timber and other forest produce for the use of the native population and for State 

 purposes has also been endangered. 



When the Government wished to take action its powei's were found to he 

 uncertain, for the destructive usages of the people had come to be regarded as 

 inalienable rights ; and it was necessary to pass a special Forest Law, which, among 

 other things, provided for the formation of reserved forests, after a full inquiry 

 had been made into claims, and for the regulation of proved rights within limit.'= 

 ■which would not endanger the permanent maintenance of the forests. The work 

 ■of ' settlement ' is now approaching completion in several provinces. 



