SIR, – After reading Julie Wight's article 'Caution required on straw,' you never said a truer word.

Your article reminded me of an incident at a farm auction years ago when the straw was being sold. I tried to sum it up in verse:

When Stan and Ken went to buy hay,

The farmer would have a bad day,

For Ken would extol,

The roof had a hole,

That fairly kept bidders away.

Names have not been changed to protect the guilty!

Hayseed

(Name and address supplied)