Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1894-02-23
WATERING HE COWS.
The Simple But Effective Arrangements
of an Eastern Dairyman.

OF an Eastern Dairyman.
L. Twombly writes from st, Law
renee county, N. Y, to the Cultivator
and Country Gentleman: Lucky in
deed is the dairyman who has living
water of sufficient elevation to admit
of it being carried direct to the barn
without other expense than the pip
ing; but few indeed are those so hap
PLY situated. Being thoroughly tired
of the generally prevailing custom Of
sending cows out of doors in all sorts
of weather to quench their thirst at a
trough or tank filed with ice water,
over slippery paths, amid the zero
breezes and billiards. of our northern
winters, set myself at work the pres
ent fall to devise something better. /
knew of plenty of ways 1t could be
done, but the question of outlay must
be considered; costly windmills, ele-
waited tanks and patent devices were
not to be thought of, so went to work
as follows:
First, got an iron force-pump,
eighty-five feet of hose and a shallow
tin pan two feet square. The well is
located twenty-four feet away, and
some three feet lower than the man
gers; the thirty cows stand in two rows
parallel to each other, and by cutting
two holes to insert the hose through
the barn siding l found / could, with
the help of boy, water them fully as
quickly and easier than / could let
them out in the yard. The size of the
pan admitting two drinking at once,
and being light, / could shove it along
with my foot and tend the hose at the
same time, each animal getting just
what she needed, and not obliged to
fight for II, either. Besides, the water is
several degrees warmer than where ex'
posed in tank outside. There is a
tight Enclosure over the pump to keep
it from freezing and for protection to
the pumper, and it is simply pleasure
these nipping, blustery mornings to &C
out and do this work with everything
under cover, and after feeding, water
ing and brushing every animal, a more
speaking picture of royal content ano
comfort you will seldom find than they
are. | venture to say it would take
some clubbing to get them to go out
side unless the weather was pretty
fine. OF course / let them go ou
awhile ondayswhen the weather is JUS
right for little exercise, but it is no
much they need.
When / think of the losses of tn,
past twenty years from icy paths anc
belligerent bovines, to say nothing o
the loss of condition from exposure t.
the elements, as we'll as discomf t,
myself, am led to wonder how
stood it as long as did. The total ex
pense of the outfit did not exceed s25
and it will also be found useful man,
times in summer to water garden o
lawn, wash windows, carriages, etc
Just how far it would be practicable t.
force water by hand cannot say, bu
in this case the work is light, and
would not hesitate to undertake /
twice the distance, and farther if tn
hose would not freeze up. which i
might do in extreme weather. I d
not advise anyone to try this plan if h
is able to get something better, bu
there are many like myself, to whor
economy is a necessity, who can adop
| this or some similar plan to do ava
with an oldfashioned relic of scru
dairying that will soon virtually be
come obsolete.