DOWN A GREEN LANE / 
93 
beautiful moss, growing amongst which are thou- 
sands of baby ferns, just springing into existence, 
and beginning to assume the ferny forms. The 
deep shade flung by hedge-bank and over-arching 
trees, and the perpetual moisture which is engen- 
dered between them, render this spot a congenial 
hiding-place for the fern-spores which germinate 
on the damp soil of the mossy hedge-bank. 
And now the swift descent of the hill-side path 
is gently broken. From the deep soft shade of 
the lane you emerge into the sunlight. The hill- 
side begins to melt into the valley. Sunlit 
meadows, gently-sloping wood-covered uplands, 
orchards, and fruit-gardens are combined in ex- 
quisite variety in the scene before you. Now, 
between the leafy interstices in tree and shrub, 
you sight some white-walled cottages. Then, as 
you pursue your meadow path, you are again lost 
under a leafy canopy, as hedge-banks once more 
close in upon you. Anon an intermingling of 
hedges, meadows, and houses ; and then your 
charming green lane abuts upon a winding road 
which leads away to the town. 
