Swift's Improvbd Lawn Mowing Machine, on the basis of " Sluinks's," we have lately seen 

 at work, aiul we are free to say that its operation is perfect; it cuts, picks up the gra*w, and 

 rolls at the same time ; the cutting is even, and, after a few weeks, a lawn presents the 

 ai)pe;iranc'o that it sliould always do, and soon accjuiros an even, firm sod. 



It is one of the greatest labor-saving machines ever invented, and is getting generally 

 diffused. Address II. N. Swift, Fishkill Landing, Dutcliess County, New York. 



Atnt Charlotte's Seedling Strawbekky is in request, one correspondent having actually 

 sent the large sum of ten cents ! for some seeds ! We do hope some of our readers sujjpo.se 

 there are disinterested articles which are not disguised puffs, occasionally, at least, in the 

 Horticulturist, The story was not written to sell the plant — quite the contrary, for the ex- 

 cellent penman and amiable gentleman who wrote that article, is too happy whenever he 

 can gratify a friend ; he was amused, however, with the remittance, which is expended in 

 stamps, to tell the writer as much! 



Parks for Piiiladelpuia. — Will it be believed, by future generations, that twelve years 

 have elapsed since the great city of Philadelphia purchased ground for a park, and that, up 

 to this day, the site is a desert ? We possess about fifty acres in Lemon Hill, above the 

 Water-Works, a site of great beauty, once the abode of wealth and taste, but now a lager- 

 beer and ice-honse waste ! A pamphlet, on our table, appeals ably and forcibly to the Coun- 

 cilmen to improve it now. Shall another twelve years elapse before these politicians obey 

 the wishes of their constituents ? We fear it, and we fear that thiice twelve years will go 

 by with a like result. The tax payer who contributes $100 a year to the public funds, need 

 pay in addition but six cents per annum, to keep Lemon Hill as a beautiful public park, and 

 yet we have waited twelve years for a beginning to be made, and, meantime, it grows yearly 

 more hopeless by the destruction of its former beauty and its trees ! Alas ! how penny-wise 

 and pound-foolish is most of our legislation. 



Hunting Park Course, a level spot of forty-five acres, presented hy a few patriotic geijtle- 

 men to the city of Philadelphia, seems to be under better auspices, and is, we understand, 

 soon to be improved. 



TuE Portuguese Vineyards. — In the late circular of Mr. Forrester, the great wine manu- 

 facturer, he gives a most gloomy picture of the Portuguese vineyards. So great is the fall- 

 ing off of the produce, that fabulous prices are demanded, and it now appears that the 

 great proprietors have jdanted Indian corn to supersede the vine, and, moreover, that a new 

 disease, caused by an insect, has made its appearance, and threatens the vines of Portugal 

 with the fate of those in Madeira and Teneriffe. The indications are strong that Europe 

 must ultimately receive her supplies of wine from America, or elsewhere. 



The Vinegar Plant. — The editor of the Rural Intelligencer gives his own treatment of the 

 vinegar plant thus : — 



" We spoke last April of a vinegar plant given us by a lady. We took it home, pro- 

 cured at an apothecary's store one of his largest glass jars, holding some two gallons, 

 filled it with common sweetened water committed the plant to it, and there it has been 

 ever since, spreading its folds upon the surface, till it was evident the vinegar had become 

 strong enough almost for the death of the j^lant ; whereupon, this week, we removed 

 the original sweetened water, and supplied its place with new, for the plant to work upon. 

 On drawing off the vinegar, it was found very strong indeed — almost as strong as lye, and, 

 for ordinary table purposes, it will require to be diluted with fresh water. There is no mis- 

 take about it — this vinegar plant will keep our family in the purest vinegar as long as wo 

 need such an article." 

 ur own experiments with the vinegar plant have also been entirely successful, 



