DOWN A GREEN LANE ! 
crowd the hedge-banks ; but Ferns which are 
tender in growth, and small in size. From the 
hedge-banks spring splendid flowers of fox-glove, 
mounted on their tall stems, and looking beautiful 
indeed in the height of their June glory. 
The lane, wide at its entrance, narrows rapidly, 
and at the distance of a stone’ s-thrown bends 
round to the left and is beyond that point hid 
from view. But so green and delightful are the 
trees, the flowers, the grass, and the Ferns, that 
our choice of the turning is instantly made. We 
feel certain that the lane will get more beautiful 
as we follow what we are sure will be its winding 
course, and we make for the bend where that 
course is hid from view. Let us look at the 
hedge-banks as we pass between them. Here are 
no less than six species of Ferns — the Male Fern, 
the Hartstongue, the Soft Prickly Shield Fern, 
and the Broad Buckler Fern growing out of the 
hedge-bank ; whilst fronds of the Common Poly- 
pody peep out from ivy-covered pollard trunks, 
and are sheltered by the overhanging shrubs 
which line the hedge-top. Small specimens of 
Bracken are also here. It is perhaps because of 
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