Letter: `Efficient' farms

Sir: Anthony Trewavas is aggressively scornful of natural or organic farming. What he has ignored is the living soil, a whole dynamic world below one's feet.

Not only are there countless small creatures at work for us, but manures that feed the soil and not just the plants will promote the breakdown of dangerous substances. The formation of humus, the organic matter which holds the soil together, will guarantee the prevention of flooding, conservation of precious water, and the minimum of soil erosion.

It will be the basis of an environment capable of creating microclimates, with trees, hedges, and deep-rooted pastures with flowers and wildlife. A far cry from regulated sterile modern farms of tubular rails and prison- type fencing.

A substainable agriculture will do more to feed the world because damage is avoided and all usable materials go back to feed the soil.

DAVID GORDON

Bristol