636 



preference for that composed of a rich loam. We noticed a curious 

 circumstance in connexion with this species and A. Filix-foemina. 

 On the back of a stream running east and west these two species were 

 located very characteristically. The south side of the glen, having a 

 north aspect, quite open and exposed, fi-ora near the edge of the 

 stream, extending three or four yards upwards, was covered exclusively 

 with A. Filix-foemina ; while the opposite side of the stream, having 

 a south aspect, was covered in a similar manner by L. Oreopteris. 

 Not a plant of any other kind was visible. The contrast of the yel- 

 low green foliage of one and pale green of the other was very striking. 

 In the valleys Veronica palustris [.'' Ed.] was very luxuriant, Wah- 

 lenbergia hederacea plentiful, and Narthecium ossifragum just making 

 its appearance. The previously-named Myosotis was here again plen- 

 tiful, and, as before, almost invariably white. 



After spending several hours in this district we shaped our course 

 towards Balcombe. About a mile thence, on the right of the road, 

 we observed Fragaria elatior plentifully in hedges ; also Scolopen- 

 drium vulgare and Lastrea Filix-mas. Proceeding towards Cucktield, 

 we noticed Viburnum Opulus just expanding. Erodium cicutarium, 

 Asplenium Adiantum-nigrum, and Scolopeudrium were very fine and 

 plentiful. 



Reaching Cuckfield at half-past 6, we examined the chui'ch, ex- 

 pecting to find some good ferns ; but in this we were disappointed. 

 The north side was quite bare, a few small plants of Asplenium Tri- 

 chomanes being all the ferns met with, except a plant of L. Filix-mas 

 and Polypodium vulgare. The tower was clothed to its very summit 

 with Parietaria officinalis, Leontodon Taraxacum, Achillea Millefolium, 

 &c. A few plants of the Achillea were on the west side of the tower. 

 On a wall on the north side of the town we observed Sedum acre ; and 

 Asplenium Ruta-muraria was lining the under portion of the coping- 

 stone, a station it seems partial to. In a lane leading south-east from the 

 town of Cuckfield, upon the wealden clay, on the opposite side of the 

 Forest Ridge to that previously spoken of, we found most luxuriant 

 growths of Polystichum angulare and P. aculeatum, accompanied by 

 Scolopeudrium vulgare, on the hedge-banks. Of the form of aculea- 

 tum, known more generally as lobatum, we found several plants. 

 This seems to be a young state of aculeatum. This was, indeed, the 

 spot for a lesson on ferns and their culture. We had just concluded 

 our ramble at sunset, and retraced our steps to the inn. 



The next morning, the 15th, we left Cuckfield, at 4 a.m., for the 

 Forest. Nothing of any note was observed till we reached the interior 



