26 SEPTEMBER 1992, Page 30

Sir: As a farmer who has contemplated sui- cide —

on and off — for the last 25 years, I was struck by your suggestion that our ten- dency to self-destruction might be due to the large quantities of farm chemicals on our premises. I walked around our chemi- cal store this morning. The 'hazards' were explained on the containers in such phrases as 'Liable to irritate the skin', 'If you feel unwell seek medical advice', 'Risk of dam- age to eyes', 'Flammable', 'Harmful to fish'. Farmers may not be gastronomes, but think they could find more comfortable means of exit than these.

J.R. Boyden

Chebbard Farm, Cheselbournc, Dorchester, Dorset