SECTIONAL TRANSACTIONS.—E. 407 
Geography is so interwoven with the fabric and the functions of the world, both in 
its physical and in its human aspects, that much of the geographical work of the 
Association has been and still is done in collaboration with other sections, and the 
habit of holding joint meetings of Section E with Section A in such matters as map- 
projections, climatology and tides, with Section C in the study of land-forms and 
recent surface changes, with Sections D, K and M in investigating the geographical 
distribution of animals and plants, with Section L on Education and with Sections 
F, G and H on economic, ethnological, and engineering matters has made possible 
much of that welding of individual specialists into a true brotherhood of science 
which it was the earliest, and is still the most important, function of the British 
Association to promote. 
Sir E. Joun Russet, F.R.S.—Soil Resources of the Empire: a suggested 
Survey. 
In recent years the agriculture of the Empire has undergone a fundamental change. 
Tn its earliest stages each region was self-supporting ; the agriculture was therefore 
general, with, however, export of some particular commodities such as grain, wool 
or skins, that could be easily carried. Three factors have caused the great change : 
improvement of transport, the development of refrigeration, and the development 
of plant breeding, which now allows considerable adjustment of crop to environmental 
conditions. In consequence, each region now tends to concentrate on the agricultural 
commodities it can produce best, and to rely on importations for all other com- 
modities ; the purpose is no longer to be self-supporting. 
Modern agricultural development has therefore become a study in adaptation of 
erops and animals to geographical conditions. The geographical conditions are the 
soil and the climate; the soil, however, is so profoundly affected by the climate 
that under similar climatic conditions the general characteristics of the soil are the 
same. The effect of topographical conditions, particularly elevation, is also climatic. 
Climate, therefore, is the most important single factor determining the type of 
agriculture. In general, under similar climatic conditions, similar agricultural systems 
can be adopted and similar products obtained, the plant-breeder making the necessary 
small changes. From the rainfall and temperature maps it is possible to make a good 
forecast of the probable agricultural products. Broadly speaking, they are as 
follows :— 
Tropics ; Plants.—Oil, fibre, alkaloids (including tea, coffee, cocoa), sugar cane. 
Animais.—Grazing cattle for low-grade beef except where insects drive 
them out. 
Sub-tropical. (a) Moist or trrigated : 
Planis.—Fruits, e.g. citrus, bananas. Rice. 
Cotton. Lucerne or certain clovers, grass. 
Animals.—Dairy cattle (fed on lucerne). Bullocks. 
(6) Drier: 
Planis.—Maize : if there is a cool season; wheat, barley. 
Animals.—Grazing sheep for wool, especially Merinos. 
Temperate. I. Continental Type. (Hot summers, cold winters.) 
Arid. Plants—Wheat, barley. 
Animals.—Sheep for wool and low-grade mutton (Merino or Persian 
crosses). 
Humid. The above and, in addition, 
Planis.—Sugar beet, tobacco, maize, lucerne, clover of various kinds, 
Tass. ” 
ee reren ae dairy cattle, pigs, poultry. 
Il. Insular Type. (Cool summers, mild winters, rain in all seasons.) 
Crops.—All British fruits. Potatoes, all British vegetables. Wheat, 
barley, oats (Rye in colder climates), grass. 
Animals.—Dairy cows. Sheep (especially for lamb production). High 
quality beef cattle, pigs, poultry. 
