Letter: Surprising properties of the ginkgo tree

Sir: Graham Snow (letter, 27 November) writes that he has not

yet found a female ginkgo tree in Britain.

A few years ago, as an apprentice gardener at the Chelsea Physic Garden in west London, I spent many unpleasant hours raking leaves in the vicinity of such a tree.

For the uninitiated, the smell of the fruit is similar to cats.

Yours faithfully,

SARAH CHESTERS

Great Torrington, North Devon

30 November