THE FERNY MOORLANDS. 



beautiful specimens of the Lady Fern, of all sizes. 

 Here also is the lemon-scented Mountain Buckler 

 Pern. We saw a number of these lovely plants. 

 It was no wonder that the Ferns in tins delightful 

 grove were so luxuriant, for the soil consisted of 

 nothing but spongy, sandy, leaf-mould. The soft 

 and exquisitely beautiful scenery in, around, and 

 above this charming wood it is almost impossible 

 to describe. The ground covered with waving 

 Fern-fronds ; on one side the foaming waterfall, 

 on the other the river with its Fern- fringed banks ; 

 above, the interlaced tops of the trees in the 

 grove, through which might be seen the great 

 wood-covered hills which shut in the prospect all 

 round, and, towering up against the blue sky, 

 seemed almost to fold over us like a delightful 

 canopy with a loveliness that cannot be described. 

 From Fingle Bridge back to Moretonhamp- 

 stead, along the intricate moorland path. From 

 Moretonhampstead to Horseman's Steps, across 

 four miles of delightful country, and through 

 ferny valleys, up ferny hills, and through ferny 

 lanes. This was our route on the day of our visit 

 to the ferny borders of Dartmoor. We reach, 



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