54 
THE FERN PARADISE. 
same side are some splendid ferns : grand specimens 
of the Broad Buckler Fern, of the purple-stemmed 
Lady Fern ; Male Ferns in abundance, many of 
them standing four feet high ; and numbers of the 
Hard Fern, finely developed. The luxuriance of 
the ferns in this part of the wood is no matter 
for surprise ; for the ground consists of soft, 
spongy, leaf-mould, a soil in which the fern 
family mostly delight. Leaving the wood we 
pass across an open meadow ; and then for a 
long distance we skirt a park wall, where, 
under the shadow of overhanging trees, grow 
the Scaly Spleenwort, the Wall-rue, the common 
Maidenhair Spleenwort, the Black Maidenhair 
Spleenwort, and small specimens of the Harts- 
tongue. From this wall the path follows on 
through the grounds of Dartington Hall, and 
pursuing it, after getting some delightful peeps of 
wood and river scenery, we find ourselves again 
at Totnes. 
