I am replying to Carl Butterworth's letter about the blue-coloured crop in the fields each side of the Marston Ferry Road in Oxford (Oxford Mail, July 19).

After a close look while walking my dog and making a mental note of the flower-head and foliage, on returning home, I looked it up in a book.

The nearest I could see was Pale Flax, Latin name Linum Bienne.

I think flax was used to make linen.

Perhaps the farmer, who sowed the seed, could enlighten us. In the field nearer Marston, the flower-heads are white.

While on the subject of botany, I would like to draw attention to a very fast growing plant just several yards to the left of Oxsrad's entrance in Marsh Lane, Marston.

I looked it up in the book and the Latin name for this one is 'Phonium Mastus'.

It was planted only a couple of weeks ago and has already grown to some 30 feet or so.

Yes, you've guessed it, it is a blooming phone mast disguised as a tree complete with green branches, sneakily planted a couple of hundred yards from a residential area.

I cannot recall any mention to site a mast there or any public objection.

I spoke to Michael Haines, who campaigned arduously to stop the siting of phone masts on top of St Michael and All Angels Church, Marston Road, and by the shops in Cherwell Drive, Marston, about this mast.

He was unaware that this mast had already been erected, but was under the impression that the local Labour councillor was fighting this one.

MICHAEL CLARKE Lewell Avenue Old Marston Oxford