Volume 8, numéro 16, 1964

EN :

Because they are due to economic contingencies rather than to unfavourable natural conditions, present-day regional disparities compel the geographer to modify his concept of the region. Whereas in the past the region was considered essentially as a physical entity, to many authors it appears today to be « a functional area, based on communication and exchange, and as such defined less by its limits than by its centre » (Juillard). It is this concept which will be used in regional planning.

Taking the city of Sherbrooke as a nodal centre, the author attempts to define such a region through an analysis and graphical representation of the complementary roles in influence and attraction played by the city in the fundamental aspects of employment, trade, finance, education, communication, health and government. Although it is already well-developed in the secondary sector, with more than 9,000 workers employed in industry and an annual production worth more than $100 million, Sherbrooke bas a power of attraction and influence which is due essentially to its tertiary sector : wholesale trade, insurance, education, communication. Ac-cording to the criteria mentioned above, the area dominated by Sherbrooke includes the whole of the following counties : Sherbrooke, Stanstead, Richmond, Wolfe and Compton ; and the greater part of Frontenac, Mégantic, Artbabaska, Drummond and Brome counties. Shefford and Bagot counties are dominated by Montréal to the west and by Sherbrooke to the east.

EN :

The great advances that geomorphology has made in recent years make necessary a critical re-examination of the relationships between this science and the field of geography. Is geomorphology truly geographical ? And if not, how can it become so ?

Geomorphology has its roots in geology and was, of course, not designed to meet the specific needs of geographers. Under the leadership of W. M. Davis, geographers eventually adopted the study of geomorphology but did Utile to adapt it to particular purposes of their discipline. Most geographers can never aspire to true excellence in geomorphology because of their generally inadequate training in the physical sciences. We have found that most geographers tend to fall into one of four groups :

1. Those who consider themselves to be geomorphologists (about one-fourth of all geographers) ;

2. Those who just try to be informed in geomorphology ;

3. Those who ignore the existence of geomorphology ;

4. The « complete » geographer who practices a « functional » geomorphology. It also appears that the majority of geographers do not consider land-man relations to be their principal field of interest.

The definition that we as geographers give to geography tends to sanction the kind of geography that we are capable of doing. For example, the classical géographie globale, which is characterized by an explanatory description of a complex of physical and human eclectic elements, does not normally require either a « complete » or a genetic geomorphology ; also, complex techniques of geomorphological investigation are not essential. Of greater importance is a geomorphology'-which is functional to geography and which will help us to understand better man's distribution and activities on the surface of the earth. This partial or « functional » geomorphology has achieved its greatest development in France (as an integral part of géographie globale) and is practised by a large number of geographers.

Géographie totale, an expression which refers more to the subject matter of this geography than to its methodology, is an ensemble of specialized yet inter-related disciplines (one of which is geomorphology). This pluralistic geography daims many more adherents than does géographie globale. Géographie totale allows us to study all aspects of what is now called geomorphology (but which may eventually be termed « cosmomorphology  »). This new geomorphology is based on geophysical laws and is strictly quantitative. It is an integral part of the physical sciences but this does not mean that it is automatically divorced from man. Scientists of both the United States and the U. S. S. R. are actively engaged in this new geomorphology.

We believe that it would be mutually advantageous for both the « functional » and the « complete » geomorphologists to group themselves into a new international association. To achieve this end we urge that the structures of the international Geographical Union be modified or that an « International Association of Geomorphology » be founded.

EN :

A marginal farm can be defined by three criteria : the amount of improved land, the amount of time spent by the operator off the farm, and the absolute and relative income derived from agriculture.

Both human and physical factors explain the deficiencies of marginal agriculture in the study area. The settlers' lack of agricultural experience, improper agricultural specializations, and the small size of the parcels of improved land (and consequently of the cattle herds) are the important human factors. The main physical limitations are climatic (especially the cool summer temperatures and the short length of the frost-free period), and pedologic.

More research is needed before political decisions can be made concerning the future of these areas of marginal agriculture. Surveys of the marginal farms and studies of the physical limitations to agriculture should be made not only by economists and pedologists, but also by geographers.

EN :

This paper presents a binary soil capability classification System which bas been developed and used in Québec since 1958.

The system bas been designed to provide some basic and essential information, regarding the value of the soil, to be integrated in a broad agricultural and economic survey of the region.

The basic criteria of the present system are : 1. the fundamental value of the soil determined by the characteristics of the soil profile ; and, 2. the kind and importance of management practices required, v.g. : correction of unfavourable internal or external limitations ; or, indications for a restricted use of the land such as : permanent pasture, wildlife, recreation and forestry.

In this system, the capability class is derived by integrating these two variables ; or, in other words, the class is the result of the combination of these two fundamental criteria. The close relation between these two factors or parameters is ex-pressed in the scheme presented in tables I and II for mineral and organic soils respectively.

This logical and practical method seems suitable and adaptable to describe any set of landscapes which are of interest to agronomists, economists and regional planning commissions. The regions of Bas-Saint-Laurent, Gaspésie, Iles-de-la-Madeleine and Montréal have been mapped according to this system.