ENGLAND’S IMPROVING CLIMATE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 1990, 28 January 1907, Page 2

ENGLAND’S IMPROVING CLIMATE.

That (within modest limits) an improvement in our climate is going on (says the Glasgow News) there appcars to be some reason to believe. The general cultivation of the‘country, with the incessant drainage and deforestation which lias resulted, lias made the climato drier and warmer than it was in the days when these islands were largely forest and swamp 'Within the last century or so, in particular, an enormous amount of draining has been carried out, That, it is alleged, is at the bottom of the serious deterioration in the salmon fishing, but it also must have had a great effect in abolishing the mists, malaria, ague, and other troubles for which Britain was once noted. Wo need not suppose, however, that improvement has been confined to the rural districts. No doubt the towns, which, although they bulk largely in the census returns, occupy only an inconsiderable fraction of the total area, have benefitted from the general increased dryness and warmth of the atmosphere. But without being too optimistic wo may conjecture that, in addition, they are organising a little improvement on their own account. There was a time, not so long ago, when the superiority of town over country in regard to dryness and warmth underfoot, was moro than balanced by the smoke-clouds which hung over great 1 centres of habitation, poisoning the atmosphere and inducing terrible fogs. Now, with no wish to be over-sanguine, it does see into us that fogs aro becoming a little scarcer, and less appalling, than they were True, wo are not 1 yet rid of the “fog fiend;” perhaps we never shall be entirely rid of him, and in any case we have still a long way to go and much to be done be-' fore we reach the limit of purification. It will not be in this generation that we shall attain to the atmospheric condition of anthracite-burning New York, of which, "says a recent traveller, the outstanding feature to one approaching up the harbor are the White jets of. steam shooting up in the clear air. . When, however, we do succeed in banishing the smoke, which is one of the worst enemies to-day, it is certain that we shall have improved our climato both directly and indirectly. For one thing, we shall have much more sunshine, and, in advertising phraseology, sunshine in life,