PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS. 487 



of geographical activities has unequalled opportunities in the somewhat shadowy 

 relations between the phenomena which we meet in this part of the subject, for 

 focussing the facts better, and obtaining a more exact view of the questian-s 

 involved. 



Where the geography of States (political geography) is concerned the same 

 need for original investigation as a basis for generalisations may be seen. At 

 the present time there is much said about the various boundaries of States, and 

 in general terms the advantages and disadvantages of different boundaries under 

 varied conditions can be stated with fair approximation to accuracy. But I 

 do not know of many detailed examinations of these boundaries or portions of 

 them where full information of all the factors involved can be found set out in 

 an orderly and authoritative manner, thus forming a sure foundation for the 

 generalised description and providing the means of verifying its correctness 

 or revising it where necessary. 



Perhaps there is really more scientific research in geography being under- 

 taken by individuals than I have given credit for, but certainly in geographical 

 periodicals, and in the bibliographies which are published annually, the amount 

 shown is not large ; neither is the number of authors as large as might be 

 expected from the importance and interest of the subject and from the activity 

 of those centres where geography is seriously taught. There seems to be no 

 reason why individual research on true scientific lines should not be as active 

 in geography as it is in geology, botany, zoology, or any other branch of know- 

 ledge ; and, just as in these, the I'eal advance in the subject is dependent on such 

 investigations rather than on travels and explorations in little-known lands, 

 unless these too are caiTied out scientifically and by thoroughly trained observers 

 who know the problems which there await solution, and can read the evidence 

 which lies before them on their route. 



If research in these directions is being actively prosecuted, but the appear- 

 ance of its results is delayed, let tis seek out the retarding causes if there be 

 any, and increase any facilities that may be desirable to assist individual efforts. 



Short technical papers of a thoroughly scientific character, such as are the 

 outcome of serious individual research, are, of course, not suitable for those 

 meetings of Geographical Societies where the majority of the Fellows present 

 are not scientific geographers, but should be presented to small meetings of other 

 workers in the same or allied fields, where they can be completely criticised. 

 The reading, discussion, and the publication of papers of this class are for 

 geography a great desideratum, for it is in them and by them that all real 

 advance in the subject is made, rather than by tales of travel, however interest- 

 ing, if these are not the work of one trained in the subject, having a knowledge 

 of what he should observe, and of what his predecessors have done in the same 

 field. The regional asipect of geography in the hands of its best exponents has 

 given to yomig geographers a wide and compi-ehensive outlook on the inter- 

 action of the various geographical factors in a region, the responses between the 

 earth's surface and the life upon it, and the control that one factor may exercise 

 upon another. In this form the fascination of geographical study is apparent 

 to everyone, but I sometimes wonder whether the exposition of such a regional 

 study by one who is thoroughly master of the component factors, having a 

 first-hand knowledge of all the material involved, and knowing exactly the 

 reliability of each portion, impresses sufficiently upon the student the necessity 

 of personal research into the details of some problem or phenomenon in such "a 

 way as to gain a real working acquaintance with them ; or does it on the other 

 hand tend to encourage generalisations based on descriptive accounts which have 

 not been verified, and where coincidences and similarities may be accepted 

 without further inquiry as evidence of a causal connection which may not really 

 exist? T imagine tliat the student may be attracted by the ajipaient .'simplicity 

 iif a ma.sterly account of the geographical controls and responses involved, anil 

 may fail to reali.se that geographical descriptions, even thongli technically 

 phrased, are not tlie eqnivalent of original quantitative investigation, either for 

 bis own education or as a contribution to the subject. 



For these reasons I believe tliat Societies can do far more good in the pro- 

 motion of geography as a science by assisting competent investigators, by the 

 loan of buok-s and instruments, and by giving facilities for the discussion 



