154 FERN GROWING 



being fully unfolded, will again commence to increase the size 

 of the head, and sometimes to a considerable extent. 



It has been suggested that information should be given 

 as to where at the present time are the best places as hunting- 

 grounds for new wild varieties, and here difficulties crop up : 

 those places that used to be the most prolific in abnormal 

 forms have been so well explored by the Botanist and Florist, 

 and so thoroughly examined by the Fern-dealer that there is 

 very little chance of finding a really distinct n^w form. It is 

 a good rule to select localities difficult of access, thinly 

 populated districts far removed from railways and the usual 

 routes of tourists ; these are now the most promising places. 

 A large wood near a road full of Ferns will be searched from 

 the nearest side, and such a place would only yield treasures 

 at the furthest extreme. Inaccessible rocks, or rocks where 

 a ladder has to be used, will yield better results than where 

 plants can be reached from the ground. In the wildest dis- 

 tricts in Scotland, Ireland, Wales, and England, far removed 

 from large towns, there are yet places to be found that will 

 reward an explorer. Even at the time when Fern-hunters 

 .found so many good varieties, a long day's search would be 

 considered a successful one if one really distinct form was 

 secured ; though there are instances where the discoveries 

 have been far more prolific. Some years ago Colonel Jones, 

 Mr. Praeger, and the author took a carriage to explore the 

 country near the sea from Minehead to Ilfracombe, avoiding 

 as much as possible the well-known coach-road. The first day 

 was spent between Minehead and Lynton, and the second 

 between Lynton and Ilfracombe ; but although many varie- 

 ties were seen, there were none that could be said to be 

 remarkably distinct. We had previously had a blank day's 

 hunting between Nettlecombe Court and Dunster Castle, 

 and afterwards an equally fruitless search near Cullompton, in 

 Devon. The author has examined parts of Dartmoor, Saltash, 



