24 The Colorado Experiment Station 
*0 large a percentage of molasses calculated on the beet? We may 
safely eliminate the following possible causes: first, any lack of 
proper appointments in the factories, for these are of the best; 
second, faulty methods or processes; third, unskillful management 
in the factory; fourth, lack of attention in taking care of the beets; 
fifth, inferior seed, for only the seed of the best varieties grown and 
furnished by reliable parties has been used; sixth, inexperience in 
growing the crop, for this feature has been supervised by the fac¬ 
tories for years; seventh, climatic influences, for these are the same 
now as they were from 1896-1904, when the average sugar content 
was from 2.5 to 3.5 percent higher than it was from 1906 up to and 
including the last campaign. Further, we should take into account 
in this connection the fact that the beet seed growers have materially 
increased the sugar producing qualities of the beets, without depress¬ 
ing their crop production within the last fifteen years, and also that 
the community in general, and not a few individuals, has had at 
least eleven years experience in the management of this crop under 
. their respective local conditions of soil, water-supply, etc. It is not 
intended to so much as intimate that all of the growers of beets are 
wise, energetic, thrifty men who have studiously and conscientiously 
endeavored to solve these problems for themselves, but the factories 
have provided men of experience and fitness for this work to coun¬ 
sel and aid the growers in all possible, feasible ways, so that the 
changed results mentioned cannot be attributed to either the inex¬ 
perience or ignorance of the general farming community. I think 
that the factors of this kind that have been specified as possible con¬ 
tributors in producing the conditions pertaining to the sugar beet 
problems for the past few years may be dismissed from further con¬ 
sideration. The only point in which some persons may disagree 
with me in this is in regard to the effects of climatic conditions. 
This is because they know that there are serious questions present¬ 
ing themselves, for which there is no other ready answer rather than 
because they have any definite fates to adduce to prove that the cli¬ 
matic conditions have changed, or to show any relation between the 
changed results and the climate. 
The most serious problem that presents itself in connection 
with the climate and its influence is probably its bearing upon the 
development of the leaf-spot or Cercospora beticola. This is a factor 
which it seems we will have to accept as an unavoidable one in the 
Arkansas Valley. In the northern part of the state it is present, 
but wholly negligible. I do not doubt but that the climatic condi¬ 
tions may be the determining factor in this difference, but so far as 
I know nothing is proven in this regard. 
In passing it may be permissible that I should call attention to 
the fact that different localities within this state may be very widely 
