FORESTS AND CLIMATE "
Snt,—While the French and Italian Rivieras offer recent examples of the climatic changes caused by deforestation, older and more striking instances are furnished by the present conditions of Tuscany and Southern Spain. I recollect a discussion on this subject between my husband and Senator Villari. The former (the late Lonsdale Ragg) was at the moment writing Dante and His Italy ; the latter had edited Villani's Chronicle. . Pro- fessor Villari maintained that both history and tradition showed that, before the forests were felled on the surrounding hills, Florence enjoyed a salubrious and temperate climate, exempt from the piercing winds and scorching heat which now affect the city. Later, when Lonsdale Rags L ecame Archdeacon of Gibraltar and editor of The Tree-Lover, he had much intercourse with Spanish foresters, who, taking long views as to the future of agriculture, continued to plant young trees even during the difficult years of the Civil War. " The barren hills of Spain," were, they said, due to the fact that during the long warfare wish the Moors the combatants on both sides cut down the forests which might afford cover to the enemy. Hence droughts, scorching summers and icy winds.
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