38 The Colorado Experiment Station 
nitrates present. The fact is that in some samples we have had to 
combine the nitric acid with these bases because there were no other 
acids with which to combine them. Another consideration will 
give an idea of the amount of nitrates in our samples, especially or 
the surface samples, i. e., that the India saltpetre earth carries a 
total of nitrates varying from 1.6 to 12 per cent and that the caliche 
worked in Chile carries from 21 to 51 per cent while these samples 
carry from about two tenths to more than six per cent of the air 
dried soils. 
It may be thought that the amounts of nitric nitrogen given 
for our good agricultural soils are exceptional, even for Colorado, 
in order to answer any such misgiving which some may entertain, 
I append tables containing 100 determinations representing 64 dif¬ 
ferent fields. 
The following 46 samples represent as many different beet 
patches. The samples were taken to a depth of six inches, October 
1-15, 1909. 
NITRIC NITROGEN IN FORTY-SIX SAMPLES OF BEET SOILS. 
Results Given in Per Cent of Air-Dried Soil. 
1 .0.001250 
2 .0.000050 
3 0.006000 
4 .0.008000 
5 . 0.000120 
6 . 0.002000 
7 .0.000075 
8 .0.000800 
9 .0.003500 
10 .0.000050 
11 .0.000800 
12 .O'. 0 0 4 0 0 0 
13 . 0.000600 
14 .0.000600 
15 .0.000100 
16.0.002000 
17 . 0.000075 
18 .0.000100 
19 . 0.000200 
20 . 0.000200 
21 . 0.012000 
22 .0.003500 
23 .0.000800 
24 .0.000200 
25 .0.000075 
26 .0.000100 
27 . Trace 
28 .0.000050 
29 .0.000025 
30 .0.000800 
31 .0.000025 
32 .0.0100,00 
33 . 0.007000 
34 . Trace 
35 .0.000050 
36 . Trace 
37 .0.000100 
38 .0.002500 
39 . 0.000150 
40 .0.001250 
41 .0.004000 
4 2. Trace 
43 .0.001500 
44 . 0.016000 
45 .0.001500 
46 . 0.000075 
The above samples represent a variety of soils on which beets 
are grown. Some of the land is low and heavy, some of it high, 
light and well drained. The table shows that the amount of nitrates 
represented in these soils varies from a trace to 1,920 pounds in 
the top six inches of soil. 
The following 54 samples from 18 different beet fields col¬ 
lected Jan. 26-31, 1910, show the amount of nitric nitrogen in the 
top six inches of the soil at this date. 
