Complete success in vegetable gardening is not possible without good seed. The planting of good seed is one of the essentials, and is just as important as proper soil texture, high fertility, frequent tillage, skillful watering or thorough spraying. Henderson states ("Gardening for Profit," p. 89) : "If there is one thing of paramount importance in vegetable gardening it is purity of seed." He spoke from the experience of a long and active life as a practical commercial grower. Expert gardeners have always exercised great care in procuring good seed, although the significance of the subject has not been fully appreciated until recently. Good seed must meet five requirements: (1) It must be true to name and not mixed. The Matchless tomato may be as valuable for certain conditions as the Stone, but no dealer is justified in making the substitution without the consent of the purchaser. Turnip seed resembles cauliflower seed, but the dealer who mixes the two is a rogue. (2) The seed must produce the best type of the variety in question. Varietal deviations are marked; strains of the same variety differ widely in size, color, form, texture and quality of their products. The strain is by far the most important factor for consideration in obtaining seeds, although it has received comparatively little attention. (3) The seeds must be viable. That is, a high percentage should be able to grow under favorable conditions. (4) They must be free from weed seeds. This is seldom a source of trouble with garden seeds. (5) They must be free from impurities, as grit, sticks or other foreign materials.