SOILS AND THEIR MANAGEMENT 199 



bad sub-soil is kept below the good soil ; but at the same 

 time it is improved, and if the process is repeated each year, 

 in a few years the plot may be truly or simply trenched. 



Hoeing : Hoeing is of very great importance because 

 (i) it reduces evaporation, and so reduces the need for 

 watering ; (2) it aerates the surface soil ; and (3) it helps 

 to keep down weeds. It is not necessary to enlarge upon 

 these benefits, but I take the opportunity of pointing out 

 the great value of regular hoeing. Some may think it is 

 waste of time, but it is not ; no time spent on hoeing is 

 wasted, both plants and soil are greatly benefited. 



If the hoe can be run regularly every fortnight down the 

 rows of annuals, between beds of biennials, along the 

 borders of chrysanthemums and dahlias, and through the 

 perennial border, from April onwards, it is not too often ; 

 the rake is not needed if the hoeing be neatly done, unless 

 there are weeds to remove. Always work backwards 

 along the plot, and if possible hoe several inches deep, 

 except close to the roots of the plants. 



A good time to hoe is after a shower, when the soil is just 

 starting to dry. It should then run over the blade of the 

 hoe very well. But do not wait for a shower. Ground 

 should always have been recently hoed before watering, 

 as then the water quickly soaks in. 



I have so far spoken only of the Dutch or " push " hoe. 

 There are others, such as the triangular hoe for making 

 drills, and the Canterbury hoe for chopping up big weeds. 

 But although these may have their merits for the purposes 

 to which they are specially adapted, they are not to my mind 

 nearly so generally useful as the Dutch hoe. 



Raking : Next in importance to hoeing comes raking. 

 Generally speaking we use the rake more for the sake of 

 tidiness than for the actual benefit it does to the soil. Those 

 who are learning to use the hoe find it difficult at first to 

 leave their work neat enough without using the rake. But 

 after hoeing a weedy piece of ground it is of great importance 

 that the weeds should be raked off or they will start to grow 

 again. The rake is also useful for removing stones from 



