170 The American Geologist. March, 1904. 
jections have little force. It is true indeed that the things with 
which geography must deal are dealt with in other sciences as 
well, but this is also the case with astronomy, physics, chem- 
istry, geology, botany, zoology, history, economics. 
There is no subject of study whose facts are independent of 
all other subjects; not only are the same things studied under 
different sciences, but every science employs some of the meth- 
ods and results of other sciences. The individuality of a sci- 
ence depends not on its having to do with things that are cared 
for by no other science, nor on its employing methods that are 
used in no other science, but on its studying these things and 
employing these methods in order to gain its own well defined 
object. Chemistry, for example, is concerned with the study 
of material substances in relation to their constitution, but it 
constantly and most properly employs physical and mathemat- 
ical methods in reaching its ends. Botanists and zoologists are 
much interested in the chemical composition and physical ac- 
tion of plants and animals, because the facts of composition and 
action enter so largely into the understanding of plants and 
animals considered as living beings. Overlappings of the kind 
thus indicated are common enough, and geography as well as 
other sciences exhibits them in abundance. It may be that 
geography has a greater amount of overlapping than any other 
science; but no valid objection to its content can be made on 
that ground ; the maximum of overlapping must occur in one 
science or another — there can be no discredit to the science on 
that account. Geography has to do with rocks whose origin is 
studied in geology ; with the currents of the atmosphere, whose 
processes exemplify general laws that are studied in physics ; 
with plants and animals, whose forms and manner of growth 
are the first care of the botanist and the zoologist; and with 
man, whose actions recorded in order of time occupy the his- 
torian; but the particular point of view from which the geog- 
rapher studies all these things makes them as much his own 
property as they are the property of any one else. 
In view of what has been said let me return to the close scru- 
tiny that I have urged as to what should be admitted within the 
walls of a geographical society. We will suppose the geography 
of Pennsvlvania is under discussion ; as a result there must be 
