He was a native of Staffordshire and a
nurseryman. He became a University proctor at Oxford
in 1630 and author of two exceptionally attractive
gardening books - A Treatise on Fruit-Trees
(1653). Two later editions appeared. He was also
author of a pamphlet, Spirtual Use of an
Orchard (1653). This was reprinted as late as
1847.
A Treatise on Fruit-Trees was written to
encourage fruit growing in England on a more extensive
scale than had ever been attempted. In fact fruit
growing in England increased greatly during the 17th
Century because of the availability of scion wood
imported from the continent.
The book, A Dialogue or Familiar Discourse and
Conference Between the Husbandman and Fruit Trees in
his Nurseries, Orchards and Gardens (1676), is a
rare volume and is the only one in dialogue form in
which fruit trees take a part in the conversation.
He also was responsible for a book entitled,
Observations upon Some Part of Sir Francis Bacon's
Naturall History as it concerns Fruit trees, Fruits,
and Flowers; especially the Fifth, Sixth and Seventh
Centuries. Improving the experiments mentioned to the
best advantage by R.A. Austen. Practise in the Art of
Gardening. Gen. 2:8, Gen 1:29, (1658)
Sir Francis Bacon wrote some material relative to
horticultural aspects of agriculture.
