54 THE FERN PARADISE. 



same side are some splendid ferns : grand specimens 

 of the Broad Buckler Fern, of the purple-stemmed 

 Lady Fern ; Male Ferns in abundance, many of 

 them standing four feet high ; and numbers of the 

 Hard Fern, finely developed. The luxuriance of 

 the ferns in this part of the wood is no matter 

 for surprise ; for the ground consists of soft, 

 spongy, leaf-mould, a soil in which the fern 

 family mostly delight. Leaving the wood we 

 pass across an open meadow ; and then for a 

 long distance we skirt a park wall, where, 

 under the shadow of overhanging trees, grow 

 the Scaly Spleenwort, the Wall-rue, the common 

 Maidenhair Spleenwort, the Black Maidenhair 

 Spleenwort, and small specimens of the Harts- 

 tongue. From this wall the path follows on 

 through the grounds of Dartington Hall, and 

 pursuing it, after getting some delightful peeps of 

 wood and river scenery, we find ourselves again 

 at Totnes. 



