112 HARDY FERNS. 
beck and Kirkstone Pass. On tliis drive I first 
saw tlie Allosorus crispus in perfection. Hitherto 
I had only possessed little roots I had bought for 
Is. 6d. each, which I had cherished as great 
rarities ; but on this day I saw it in immense 
quantities, and I was told it was used by the 
poor people to heat their ovens. What a sur- 
prise it was ! I first discovered a few plants in 
a wall : I begged the driver to stop while I dug 
them out. He laughed and said, " Wait awhile, 
ma'am, you'll find better than that." A little 
further on there were some small tufts by the side 
of the wall. I stopped the driver again, and again 
he laughed and said, Wait." So I waited till we 
arrived at the inn at the top of the pass, and there 
it was growing everywhere; but there is such a 
thing as being embarrassed with riches, and it was 
difiicult to decide which to take. I did what I 
advise other Fern-lovers to do : I packed up a large 
hamper full, and sent it ofi^ by rail, home. The 
hostess of the inn showed me also some Asplenium 
viride, not in tiny plants as I had always seen it, 
