11 JANUARY 1957, Page 17

SIR,—'Even in Subtopia there is a tendency for good taste

to drive out bad' (Strix).

I do hope he is right, but could he offer us some more convincing evidence for this encouraging claim than 'concrete gnomes are following the monkey- puzzle and the aspidistra into limbo'? I always rather liked a monkey-puzzle.—Yours faithfully,

JOHN IRWIN

4 Darnley Terrace, St. lames's Gardens, Kensington. W 11