50 
THE FERN PARADISE . 
rock was hid by bushes that closed over it. Pressing 
these on one side, we found as we had expected 
an unusually fine plant of our Spleenwort, its roots 
being firmly imbedded in the layers of slate rock, 
which were kept cool and moist by the shelter of 
the bushes. Where this fern is to be found, you 
will always find the largest and most luxuriant 
specimens in the darkest and dampest corners. 
No fern shuns the light more than the graceful 
and beautiful Asplenium adiantum nigrum. It is a 
great favourite of ours, and cannot, we think, fail 
to be admired by all fern lovers. It is hardy 
too, and will well repay in cultivation a very 
small amount of care and attention. 
It is astonishing how many delightful green 
lanes abut on to the high roads in Devonshire : 
lanes so temptingly beautiful that you feel you 
cannot pass without exploring them, for, at least, 
some little distance. We espied such a lane when, 
on the road we are describing, we reached the top 
of the hill, on the other side of which lay Staverton 
Bridge. This lane turns out of the road on the 
right, and we explored it for a short distance. 
