Oxford Democrat

Warming Water for Cattle.

The Somerset (Mass.) Telegraph states that Mr. Porter Mahrd, of that town, has devised a very curious and ingenious apparatus to warm the water for his cattle, as well as to prevent the ice from collecting in the tub. It consists of a small cast-iron chest of about twelve inches square, made water tight, fixed in the fireplace, in such a manner that one side of it forms so much of the back of the fireplace, and is exposed to the heat of the fire. The water of the aqueduct, in its course from the fountain to the yard, is made to pass into this box at one end, and thus becoming heated, passes out at the other end, and continues to the trough, which is across the road, and about six rods from the house. Mr. Mahrd, previous to adopting this plan, had a good deal of trouble with the ice forming in his tub, but has very little of that kind now. He says his cattle drink much more than they would if the water was cold, and he believes it to be more healthy for them. The calves enjoy it so much, that when let out to drink they will fight for the warm end of the tub.