" | Beech Hill | J.H. Irving
Martin " | Creekfield | Joe Bair
Miss Co " | Catalpa Grove | Geo. Burns
Cramer " | Hubbleside | . . . . . . . . . . . .
Miller " | Spring Grove | A. Miller
Brown " | East Gravel Hill | J.H. Miller
----------------------------------------------------------------------

I give these as samples to guide my brother farmers in selecting names
for their homes. Every one of those farms can be identified by some
local peculiarity, prominent and visible. For instance, Davis place is
situated close to a large pond covered with white lilies. Standing on
the doorsteps of the Manning place you can view a ten-mile stretch of
the Mississippi river, while Mr. Relley's place is situated on the banks
of that great stream. Such names can be multiplied to an indefinite
extent, and duplicated in each county.

If such names were generally in use, it would greatly assist postmasters
in their difficult task of knowing which Smith or Brown was intended.

Now brother farmers, I have moved the adoption of appropriate names for
every farm in the land; who will second the motion? Give your wives and
daughters a chance to name the homestead, and my word for it, it will be
both musical and appropriate. Let us give our children something
pleasant to think of after they have left the dear old home. To afix the
name, paint it on a large board and nail it over your front gate.

ALEX ROSS,
CAPE GIRARDEAU, MO.

DIOGENES IN HIS TUB.

Allow me, Messrs. Editors, to give you notes of what I see, and hear,
and learn, and cogitate, and endeavor to inculcate, from my snug little
home in my Tub--will you not?

Well--having your assent, I begin by wishing you all--editors,
correspondents, typos, and "devils"--a Happy New Year, and your
excellent paper unlimited success in 1884, and a long life thereafter.
Next, permit me to advert to the contents of some

RECENT NUMBERS.

First, to the pro and con of pasturing corn-stalks. That is a subject,
like many others, on which much can be said on both sides. Mr. Stahl (in
No. 50) quotes Prof. Sanborn as saying that a ton of corn fodder,
"rightly cured and saved," is worth two-thirds of a ton of good timothy
hay. That may be true; but to be rightly cured and saved it must be
protected from the rains and snows as the hay is; otherwise it will be
as worthless a