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bit, to the dimensions of a cigar end, before arriving at a 

 wee bit of green caudex as a starting point. Then the 

 tender and anxious care, the earnest watchfulness for 

 the desired signs of life, and the eventual triumph of 

 rescuing a valuable and historic gem. Eh, mon ! such 

 would be a grand achievement. 



Fortunately, in removing my Ferns from Furness Abbey 

 to Burgess Hill, Sussex, the conditions v.ere reversed. A 

 four-pronged fork, instead of a mattock, answered the 

 purpose of '- lifting," and for the smaller plants a trowel 

 sufficed. The collection of over eight hundred named 

 varieties had been got together in a few years, and their 

 condition for removal was all that could be desired ; they 

 had made excellent growth, but had not become unwieldy. 

 A considerable quantity of moss, old newspaper, and bass 

 was provided. A friendly wholesale provision merchant 

 provided egg boxes in sufficient numbers. These boxes 

 were strong and bound with iron bands. They measured 

 2 feet 10 inches long, lo inches deep, and 2 feet 9 inches 

 wide, and were amply ventilated, thereby preventing heat- 

 ing. Each plant was taken up with a fair amount of soil,, 

 well wrapped up in damp moss, papered and tied. A lead 

 label, i^ inches wide at top, tapering to |-inch at bottom, 

 and 5 inches long, with the stock book number stamped 

 on each, was enclosed. The stock book recorded the name 

 of the fern, from whom obtained or where found, and the 

 date of acquisition. Separate boxes were used for the 

 various species. Eventually the whole were packed tightly 

 in seventeen boxes, labelled, and then entrusted to the 

 tender mercies of the railway company, with whom I had 

 arranged for a covered truck to accommodate my ferns, 

 trees, shrubs, and plants, and I am glad to acknowledge 

 the great care with which they were treated in transit. 



In the meantime a start had been made to prepare the 

 land for their reception at Burgess Hill, Sussex, which 



