592 
Facts and Observations. 
Destruction of Racing Stock at Swacliffe 
Paddocks by Lightning. —On Sunday last, August 21st., 
Mr. Gulliver, of Swacliffe Paddocks, near Banbury, the well- 
known breeder of racing stock, sustained a severe loss by the 
thunder-storm which passed over the midland and southern 
counties. The electric fluid killed four valuable colts and a 
brood mare, and seriously injured several other animals. One 
mare is completely paralysed and others are still suffering 
from partial paralysis, the lightning having affected their 
nervous system. Redemption , the well-known brood mare, 
whose stock has always commanded high prices, has sustained 
a fracture of the near fore leg, and, to add to the misfortune, 
she is near foaling. The present loss is estimated at £3500, 
and this amount will probably be increased, as some of the 
animals, which were of great promise, will prove all but useless 
for the purpose for which they were bred. 
New Law on Poisoned Flesh. —By an Act just printed 
a penalty of £10 can be levied on any person placing 
poisoned flesh in fields and other places, unless under proper 
precautions, for the destruction of vermin. The statute is 
also to extend to the Poisoned Grain Act of 1863. 
Malt for Feeding Cattle. —An experiment was re¬ 
cently concluded in Cumberland which is interesting to 
farmers and others, as showing the relative feeding properties 
of barley and malt. On the 9th of April last, eight Irish 
heifers, as nearly equal in quality, size, and weight, as it was 
possible to find them, were fastened up in the premises of 
Mr. Wynclham, brewer, Cockermouth, to fatten. Four of 
these were fed upon barley and four upon equal measures 
of malt. The result, at the end of thirteen weeks, was in 
favour of barley by 30 lbs. upon the four, which ' sold for 
£6 10(9. more money than those fed upon malt. The owner- 
lost 5s. per head by the experiment.— Times, July 18 tbi, 1864. 
Death from Hydrophobia. —In the early part of June 
a ferocious and strange dog, of the lurcher breed, ran into 
the toll-house at Heaton Chapel, near Stockport, and bit a 
little deaf and dumb boy, aged fourteen, named Jacob 
