116 
EARLY EUROPEAN RESEARCHES 
of more than 5 months. It would seem that he gathered also 
some Chinese plants. I have already stated (see above Linn. 
Chin, plants. 172.) that Torenia asiatica, named by Linnaeus 
after Toreen, was probably brought from China, not from 
India. In D. C. V. 543 I read under Pluchea {Conyzct) hirsuta: 
China (Torr. ex Linn.) I cannot now refer to Linn.’s original 
work in order to decide whether Toreen is quoted. Toreen 
died a year after his return to Sweden. Linnaeus published 
the letters Toreen had addressed to him during his voyage. In 
his narrative there is nothing of interest concerning Chinese 
botany. He speaks of some cultivated plants and reports, 
that the Tea shrubs he took with him on his return, died, on 
the road, notwithstanding his care. 
The third account of Swedish naturalists in China trans¬ 
lated by Eorster, is a Treatise on CHIIESEI HUS- 
BANBRVb y CHA&1ZIS GIST. BC1ESERG. 
Eckeberg was Captain of a Ship in the Swedish E. I. Comp.’s 
Service. We know from Sparrmann’s brief account of his 
voyage to China, (see - further on) that Eckeberg was Captain 
of the Havarcha and that this ship arrived at Canton Aug. 24. 
in 1766. It was at this place, that Eckeberg made his obser¬ 
vations on Chinese husbandrjv on which subject he sub¬ 
sequently published a very interesting account, of which I 
shall give an abstract. It seems that E. had previously visited 
Canton, about 1762. 
E. states that Rice is largely cultivated in the neighborhood 
of Canton. But he saw also Wheat there and Barley'. 
He mentions a coarse species of plaqt, with thin roots, 
whose leaves, flowers and seed capsules were like those of 
Radishes. These were sown in the beginning of Dec. In 
Febr. they were all in blossom, but in April the seed capsules 
turned yellow, and then the plants were plucked, dried, and the 
numerous seeds beaten out. From the seeds they press an oil, 
which they, turn to many purposes in economy, but especially 
they burn it in lamps, and dress several dishes with it while 
it is fresh. The oil is so fat, that it cannot be used in paint¬ 
ing, because it will not dry. The soot which comes from the 
lamps in which this oil is burnt is used in making the well 
known Indian ink. 
The plant here alluded to is the Ra/phanus chinensis ctnnibus oleiferus. 
L. Raphanus sativus, var. oleifera. I). 0. I. 228. It is stated in the 
Collect, aead. partie etrang. XI. 379 (quoted by Grosier, la Chine III. 
234. I have not seen the original.) that the seeds of this plant, which the 
Chinese cultivate under the name of suifa or sui fa tun f had been supplied 
