HE honor society of agriculture, Gamma Sigma Delta, elects members of several types. Undergraduate student members are elected from the upper quarter of the graduating class within one semester of graduation. Graduate students are elected upon the basis of ability to conduct research work and advanced study in agriculture. The proportion who may be elected is not restricted as in the case of undergraduate students. Faculty members may be elected provided they "have been engaged in work in agriculture or in science related to agriculture for at least three years and have shown exceptional ability as teachers or investigators." Alumni may be elected on the basis of unusual service to the cause of agricultural development, but alumni membership cannot be conferred in this way within five years of graduation.

     The organization is an honor society rather than an honorary fraternity. Election is restricted to those who are about to graduate. It is entirely in the hands of the faculty members of the organization who control policies in all particulars. Election is by no means, however, based solely upon grades. Only a portion of those eligible under the constitutional requirements are actually elected. In addition to other qualifications the candidate must meet approval because of personal character, a vital interest in agriculture, and promise of leadership in some phase of agriculture. Chapters have been granted to leading land-grant colleges of agriculture. They constitute the national organization, but govern themselves through a legislative council whose officers constitute an executive committee when the council is not in session. The numerous alumni connected with the United States Department of Agriculture have organized an alumni chapter to which a charter has been formally granted.

     The purpose of the society, as stated by the constitution, is "to encourage high standards of scholarship in all branches of agricultural science and education, and a high degree of excellence in the practice of agricultural pursuits, by the election to membership of those students of the graduating and post-graduate classes in agricultural colleges who have shown exceptional ability during their undergraduate work, and of those alumni and faculty members who have rendered signal service to the cause of agricultural development."

     The double name of the organization results from the combination of two organizations; the Agriculture Honor Society of America and Gamma Sigma Delta. The former was organized at the University of Minnesota for the purpose of extending into the various agricultural colleges. Gamma Sigma Delta was already established upon an honorary basis with election of students by students in the junior and senior years, its history extending back to December 1, 1905. Chapter house relations were maintained until May 3, 1913, but discontinued at that time. The constitution of the united society was drafted by Prof. W. F. Coover, Chairman of the Chemistry Department of the Iowa State College, and Dr. R. W. Thatcher, a member of President Coolidge's agricultural commission, and until recently director of the New York Agricultural Experiment Station.

OFFICERS

President	E. E. BRACKETT
Vice-President	F. D. KEIM
Secretary	A. W. MEDLAR
Treasurer	H. J. YOUNG

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HE society of Sigma Xi includes in its membership, those special students of science who have the combined qualities of mind and character which give assurance that the candidate can become a fruitful member in the fields of science. It represents a distinction conveying the implied approval of a jury of professional scientific workers.

     The society was established at Cornell University in 1886. It was planned by two engineers who felt that an honorary scientific society was highly desirable. The organization aims to encourage research in science, pure and applied, by the selection of promising candidates to its membership, and by bringing together at its meetings men and women who are devoting themselves to some branch of experimental science. During the past year the chapter has witnessed demonstrations of work and listened to accounts of new researches. The Nebraska chapter was established in 1897.

     The members are divided into four classes, associate, active, alumni, and honorary. The activities of the chapter are carried on by the active members, and they are of sufficiently broad scope to be of benefit, not only to all grades of membership but to the University as a whole.

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