A needle bed (1) that comprises strips (4) in order to form needle channels (5), with the strips being configured in a comb-like manner. Between the individual teeth of this comb, recesses (28 through 37) are formed, said recesses being disposed to supply fluid to the needle channel (5) and to drain said fluid. The groove (12) that accommodates the strip (4) forms a distributor space where the distribution of the fluid to be supplied to the knitting tools takes place over a section of the strip (4), which section is preferably greater than half the length of the strip.