FERNY RAMBLES IN SOUTH DEVON, 41 



our plan of operations should be as follows. 

 Selecting Totnes perhaps the most beautiful spot 

 in South Devon as our head-quarters, we deter- 

 mined that we would from that centre explore 

 some of the ferny lanes, streams, woods, and 

 moorlands in its vicinity, naming the places 

 visited, enumerating the ferns growing there, and 

 giving descriptions of the scenery. No choicer 

 spot for the passionate lover of ferns can be found 

 anywhere in Great Britain than in the neighbour- 

 hood of Totnes, whose houses are picturesquely 

 dotted about on the banks of the lovely Dart, the 

 most beautiful river in all England. There are to 

 be found ferns of many kinds, in every graceful 

 variety of growth, exquisite in form and shading, 

 and in countless numbers. 



Totnes pays homage to the ferns. Everywhere 

 in and about the little town these beautiful plants 

 hold sway. How can we describe the place ? We 

 shall not even attempt any exact description. 

 It is on a hill and yet in a valley. Climb 

 the road that forms its main street, extending 

 from the Dart Bridge which divides Totnes from 



