4 The Colorado Experiment Station 
which I have, heretofore, attempted. The subject itself, the quality 
of sugar beets, is not so definitely fixed as to remove it from serious 
discussion. We have no definite quality which is fixed. The best 
that we can do will be to adopt a standard for comparison and abide 
by it throughout. The factors influencing these qualities and the 
manner and extent to which they modify one another are so good 
as wholly unknown. 
The German and French chemists have studied the composition 
of the beet, the questions pertaining to its culture and nutrition, the 
effect of fertilizers, etc., upon its sugar content and factory qualities, 
till they know with a high degree of accuracy what these effects are 
under their conditions, but their results cannot be safely accepted as 
necessarily holding under our Colorado conditions. If, however, we 
seek information on these subjects we are compelled to avail our¬ 
selves of German or at least of foreign data. So far as I am aware 
no serious study of the chemical composition of the sugar beet, 
beyond the determination of its sugar and ash content, the ordinary 
fodder analysis of the root and leaves and the determination and 
composition of the ashes had been undertaken in this country till 
within the past two years. 
The composition of the sugar beet, in the sense just stated, i. e., 
its percentage of sugar, its composition as indicated by the ordinary 
fodder analysis and the composition of the ash, was studied by this 
Station for several years to determine these data for the beet as it 
grows under our Colorado conditions, including as great a variety of 
soils as was at that time feasible. 
Among the factors which distinguish our problems, from those 
of Germany for instance, is the presence of large amounts of soluble 
salts in the soil. Such definite data as I have been able to find, indi¬ 
cate that the water-soluble in ordinary arable soils varies from a few 
# • 
thousandths to approximately four-tenths of one percent, while our 
soils often carry from one to one and one-half or even two percent. 
The top two inches of such soils frequently carry much higher per¬ 
centages, from two to eight percent or even more of water-soluble. 
Such conditions render our questions involved ones, making it diffi¬ 
cult to determine the actual effect of any single factor. We con¬ 
stantly hear seepage and alkalization put forth as the actual causes 
of many of our troubles. Further, unexpected results, either good 
or bad, are attributed to climatic influences when no other cause 
seems evident. 
In regard to seepage existing in many places, and that in ex¬ 
tended areas, no one acquainted with the facts would attempt to 
deny. The presence of alkalis in such areas is frequent; the quan¬ 
tity of these salts often being very large. These conditions are evi¬ 
dent to the average man and are both undesirable and harmful in 
