Canaigre is one of the few tanstuffs that seems to be well adapted to mechanised agriculture, should it become an economic crop.

He lost his patience trying to undo his shoe-lace, but tugging it made the knot even tighter.

Located at the back of this most genteel Upper East Side charity shop, past the alligator bags, upholstered sofas and preloved tuxedos, the designer room is a shoe-box-size repository for the choicest women’s wear, culled from the thousands of items donated every week, and sold at prices slightly higher than the average thrift outlet but still lower than most vintage stores.

Many long-established compounds are set solid.