44 THE FERN PARADISE. 



and streams, in the direction of the picturesque 

 town of Ashburton. But three miles from 

 Totnes, along the Ashburton Road, and three 

 miles back again through Dartington Wood, will 

 be a delight and a study of the rarest kind for 

 the fern lover. 



Just a short description of the delightful 

 suburbs at this part of Totnes before we disappear 

 under the canopy of green trees that in a few 

 moments will shut out the pretty little town. We 

 cross a brook which skirts a flower-bespangled 

 meadow, and flows darkly on by the side of a 

 shady thicket. Then we plunge under a grove of 

 elms, and emerging from these catch a fine view of 

 church, castle, and town, sweeping upwards to the 

 left along an upland, on which orchards and fruit- 

 gardens also nestle. Then we near the railway 

 station, and are greeted by the " puff " of a passing 

 train on crossing the railway bridge. One moment 

 more, and town and railway are hid from view as 

 we get away into the green and winding road to 

 Ashburton. A little further on we mount a hill, 

 and turning round we may catch a last peep of the 



