“But Daddy said the ground had to be smooth to make a garden,” said Mab.  “The plowing man is making it all rough.”

“Yes, it does look rough now,” said Daddy Blake, as he came along just then, in time to watch the man plowing.  “Those long lines of overturned soil which you children see are called furrows.”

“Could you plant anything in them?” asked Hal.

“Well, you could, yes.  But it would not grow very well, and when the corn, beans or whatever you planted came up, you could not work around them well to cut down the weeds.  It would be too rough.  So after the man has plowed the ground he will harrow it.”

“What’s that?” asked Hal

“Well a harrow is something like a big rake,” explained Daddy Blake.  “There are three kinds of harrows, but they don’t often use more than one kind for a garden.  The man will use a tooth harrow.  It is called that because it is made of iron spikes, or teeth, driven through some long beams of wood.  The teeth stick through and when they are dragged over the plowed ground they make it quite smooth.  When I take you to the farm I can tell you about and show you other kinds of harrows or big rakes.”

It took the man with the plow the rest of the day to turn over the soil in the Blake garden, and Hal and Mab looked on every minute they had out of school.  Mr. Porter’s garden, next door, was plowed too.

When Hal and Mab went to the fence to see how Mr. Porter’s ground looked they saw little Sammie standing near.  The red-haired boy was looking at something on the ground.

“What is it?” asked Hal.

“Big snake,” was the answer.  “I don’t like a snake.  I’m goin’ home,” and he started to run.

“Oh, a snake!” cried Mab.  “I don’t like snakes either;” and she turned to go away.

“Where’s the snake, Sammie?  Show me!” said Hal.

“See him crawlin’?” and red-haired Sammie pointed.  “I guess he goin’ to bite!  I run!” and away he started, but he fell down on the rough ground.  He did not cry, however, but picked himself up and kept on.

“That isn’t a snake!” called Hal with a laugh, “It’s only a big angle worm.  That won’t hurt you, Sammie!  Don’t be afraid.”

“Dat no snake?” the little boy wanted to know.

“No.  Only a fish worm.  Don’t you remember how we went fishing with Daddy, Mab?” asked her brother.

“Yes, I do.  But I thought it was a snake.”

Hal had jumped over the fence and picked up the worm.  It was a large one and had been crawling about the newly-plowed field.

“Oh, I don’t like ’em,” said Mab with a little shiver.

“Worms are good,” said Mr. Porter coming out into his garden.

“You mean good for fishing?” asked Hal

“Yes, and good for gardens, too.  They wiggle through the ground and sort of chew it up so it does not get so hard.  The earth around the roots of trees and plants ought to be kept loose and dug up so the air and water can get through easier.  So worms in a garden help to make the plants grow.”