42 
But important as those purposes are, I believe now 
that even of more importance is the aeration of the 
soil so that the plant food may be the more readily 
available. Many kinds of bacteria are constantly at 
work on the soil particles and many chemical changes 
take place and for both of these air is needed. I be¬ 
lieve that the rootlets themselves need air. 
Our deep cultivation should be done before the 
actual planting. If a cover crop of clover, or oats and 
vetch, is grown the preceding year, it should be plowed 
under when it has reached a growth about right for 
hay, and the plowing should be deep. Then when the 
beds are prepared, there should be a deep working of 
the soil. Then the very deep cultivation should cease. 
A few days after the beds are planted, the surface 
may be raked over lightly so as to break up any crust 
and many small weeds will be killed. However, if about 
half an inch of sand has been spread over the beds, 
there will be no crust to break up and if the method of 
sprouting before planting has been used and the beds 
have been thoroughly worked just before planting, the 
gladioli will have the start of the weeds. Then by use 
of the wire weeder described elsewhere we shall elim¬ 
inate the weed problem. It is only very early in the 
spring that weeds give us any concern for we aim to 
cultivate so often during the growing season that they 
will have no chance. It goes without saying that weeds 
should not be allowed to grow in the beds, nor in the 
paths either, and the smaller they are the more easily 
they are killed. Best to kill them even before they show 
above the surface of the soil. 
The beds should be cultivated as soon as the soil 
can be worked safely after a rain or irrigation, so that 
