14 AUGUST 1982, Page 17

Obvious?

Sir: Simon Courtauld's Notebook (7 August) referred to his difficulty in tracing the derivation of the term 'stick' instead of runner beans. I can offer no esoteric insight but logic suggests it is because, unlike other varieties, the runner is a climbing bean which is grown up 'sticks'. Often it is the obvious which escapes us!

R. J. Stone

14 New Street, Burton-on-Trent