Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1862-01-17
From Washington.

attract general attention.
To prevent failures in its cultivation. it
Is proper to remark that it is a priucipIe in
vegetable physiology, that tropical plants
can never be acclimated north except by a
I repeated reduction of new varieties from
tue seed. The Sea Island cotton, such as
Is now being brought from Hilton Head,
would prove failure in any portion of the
tree States. The only variety that is cana
| BILE of successful cultivation in these sec
lions now seeking its introduction. is the
green seed cotton, such as is now being
raised extensively in Arkansas, Missouri.
tennessee and portions of Kentucky, and
Wnlch produces the white FIBRE The seed
should be obtained from these localities.
Inc notifications of soil and climate will
influence the size of the plant, the length
and tineness of the fibre and the product of
tue crop. But no reasonable doubt is en-
teTtnlned OF the success of the culture in
all the mild portions of the middle States,
ana efforts are now being made to procure
the proper seeds for distribution.
INC commissioners further says that the
results of the cultivation of Sorgho the mast
year settle the question of its entire nrac'
tlcal success, and that one of the difficnl.
ties presenting itself, is the want of pure
seed. To meet this want this division has
ordered seed from France for distribution
IN tue ensuing spring. 1t must be borne
IN mind however, that the same causes
which has produced deterioration here ex-
lists there, and well grounded appreben-
slons are entertained, that the seed thus
imported may not be free from suspicion
Farmers who are interested should secure
pure seed from among themselves when it
Is palpable ms the season is SO far advanced
that direct importations from Africa or
China would be impracticable.
Yesterday the rebel batteries on the Po-
Ton tomac hred rs shots at an oyster pungy,
but did not hit it. 90
fleet of lumber vessels subsequently,
run the blockade without being greeted
with such salutes and arrived safely at
Washington.
The following is the resolution reported
oy Mr.. Baker, of New York, (uot by Mr..
Van Horn as enormously printed from
the Committee on Roads and Canals, which
is agreed to:
ResOiOed, That the Secretary of War be
directed to ascertain and report to the
House rs early as practicable, what ar
engagements can be made, and the terms of
the same, with the Railroad companies o,
the line between Washington and New
I ork, by the way of Baltimore and Phila-
dolphin, for the construction off side track
ma through West Philadelphia; and also
for the construction of IL side track from
Back River to the Relay House in MARYLAND
through West Baltimore; and also for the
construction of another track between the
Eelay House and Washington, so as to
open speedy and direct communication
between the said cities of New York and
Washington. and furthermore that he be
directed to invite propositions for the con-
struction of a distinct and direct route
from New York to Washington.
The Senate were in executive session
four hours to-day on the nomination of
Cameron as Minister to Russia The de-
bate is represented as earnest and spir-
tied. No definite vote was taken, other
Senators being DESTROYS OF previously ex-
pressing their views on the subject.
The Government Contract Investigating
Committee are now engogedsoupon the SUBJ
ject of alleged frauds in this vicinity =
They discover that the same horses have
been twice sold to the Government. SUI
perlntendents and Inspectors are bribed to
certify to horses, sometimes selling them
to private individuals. That the enormous
amounts paid by the War Department for
induce strong competition
among Railroads, so that many Colonies |
in the West, moving their regiments East
received each from fifteen hundred to two |
thousand dollars bonus. That some suit
tiers arc making $4,000 profits per month !;
that nearly all the suffers south of the Pc.
tomac sell liquor with the knowledge of
the officers; that it is struggled in boxes
marked government and hospital stores or
packed in barrels and marked beef
Major Jordan of the Brooklyn 18th hav-
ing been appointed Lieutenant Colonel of
the 10th Legion, enables representative
Van Wyck. who is its Colonel, to give much
of his time to the business of the Investi-
eating Committee, which will soon proceed
to the examination of the contracts for
wlntered, disabled and sick horses, aspro-
pressed by representative McPherson's re.
cent resolution.
So far about 1000 prisoners on each side
have been exchanged, nearly 500 of whom
were connected with the army of the Poto-
mac. The system of exchange inaugurat-
ed by our government is fully reciprocal
ted by the rebel authorities.