A National Atlas

This article discusses the proposal to compile a National Atlas of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. The author supports the project in principle but stipulates two key conditions: the atlas should cover the entire British Isles (including all of Ireland), and a permanent organization should be established for continuous updates. The article criticizes premature publication before preliminary surveys are completed, citing soil maps and megalithic monuments as examples where insufficient survey data would lead to inaccurate classification. The author recommends establishing a permanent nucleus at the Ordnance Survey to conduct essential surveys and maintain up-to-date revisions. Ultimately, the author believes that, if properly executed, the atlas could rank with national projects like the D.N.B., but it requires adequate educational support and government funding.