Snail’s pace

Researchers have found that moving snails 20 metres away from a garden is just as effective at limiting plant damage as killing the molluscs, according to research by the Queen Mary University of London (your report, 
16 May).

Every week some new useless research, such as this, is reported in the press. Another was how an octopus avoids getting its eight arms in a tangle. This may be a way of keeping researchers in well-paid jobs and unemployment numbers down, but the public pays for this “research” through its taxes. Surely it would be more sensible to stop funding these numerous useless research projects and group the money for accelerated research into that which will help mankind, such as medical advances, disease control and crop research?

In the meantime, I will continue my unpaid research into how many slugs I can I kill with a can of beer.

Clark Cross

Springfield Road

Linlithgow, West Lothian