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 
