Much of the credit can be given to Andrew Young, Mayor of Atlanta in the early 1980s. Mayor Young was the first to articulate clearly that for Atlanta to survive and thrive, it had to develop strong international business and diplomatic ties. Atlanta International School was founded, with the support of Mayor Young's city government, in 1984. While it is clear that business interests, local and international, have been the driving force behind much of Atlanta's growth, I would suggest that the close liaison between industry and local government has been the real key to Atlanta's success. Ironic, isn't it? Professor Frank Fahy University of Southampton. Sir: Annie Bell (Magazine, 4 May) reopens the wild asparagus controversy: "spindly spears that could be mistaken for hop shoots".

Is there anything new to add to the conclusion of Elizabeth David's definitive essay "Bruscandoli" (in An Omelette and a Glass of Wine; Robert Hale, 1984) that wild asparagus, wild hop shoots, bruscandoli, luppoli and jets de houblon are all one and the same? Dr Alex Ungar WigtonCumberland. Sir: As headmaster of Atlanta International School, currently visiting the UK, I would like to comment on Hamish McRae's article on jobs in Atlanta (3 May). In my experience, those students who spend much of their time in front of the screen are the weakest in communciation skills. If there were some fatal disease plausibly linked to food supplied from, say, Hampshire, would we not expect the British government to act exactly in this manner on behalf of the remainder of the country?Peter RobbLondon N1.

Sir: May I most strongly support the views expressed in the letter of Stephen Read (9 May)? At last, someone who really understands the meaning of the term "computer literacy" has exposed the folly of wasting money on the blanket provision of computers in schools. Where is the debate on these issues? Does a petty nationalism somehow reduce government responsibility for the nation's well-being? Do commercial interests prevail, with our present rulers, over the health of citizens? The European Commission appears to be trying to protect other EU producers and consumers while helping to compensate the UK industry. And yet Scottish National Heritage, led by Magnus Magnusson, will not object to the development The dotterel is also called the mossfool Mastermind seems scarcely any wiser. Dr Colin Wells North West Wetlands SurveyLancaster University. Sir: On BSE and CJD the Government began by hiding behind an inappropriate use of science and now puts up an anti-European smokescreen.