Braddick's Nonpareil
AppleBraddick's Nonpareil
Origin/History
Raised by John Braddick, Esq., of Thames Ditton, Surrey, England. Figured by Ronalds, Pl. xxxiv. Considered one of the best winter dessert apples, and by many regarded as more sweet and tender than the Old Nonpareil.
Tree
Small and grows slenderly, but very hardy and an excellent bearer. Succeeds well on the paradise stock and should be grown in every garden.
Fruit
Size: The Herefordshire Pomona describes the fruit as medium sized; Downing gives it as small.
Form: Roundish and flattened, inclining to oblate (Herefordshire Pomona). Downing describes it as roundish conical, or flattened at the base — a somewhat differing characterization.
Stem: Half an inch long, inserted in a round and rather shallow cavity.
Cavity: Round and rather shallow.
Calyx: Not described in source.
Basin: Deep, round, and even.
Skin: Smooth. Greenish yellow in the shade, brownish red next the sun, russetty round the eye, and partially covered on the other portions of the surface with patches of brown russet. Downing similarly gives yellowish with brownish red in the sun and russet near the calyx.
Flesh/Flavor: Yellowish, rich, sugary, and aromatic. Both sources agree on this characterization.
Core/Seeds: Not described in source.
Season
The Herefordshire Pomona places it in season from November to April. Downing gives October to December (attributed to Lind.) — a somewhat earlier and narrower window.
Uses
One of the best winter dessert apples.
Subtypes/Variants
The Herefordshire Pomona notes a possible synonym: Ditton Nonpareil (queried).
Other
Not described in source.
Book Sources
Described in 2 period pomological works
Nursery Catalog Sources
Found in 2 catalogs (1900–1911) from England
- George Bunyard & Co. , Royal Nurseries, Maidstone, Kent , England — 1900
- James Veitch & Sons , Ltd., Royal Exotic Nursery, Chelsea, London (also Coombe Wood, Langley, and Feltham) , England — 1911
View original book sources (2)
— Woolhope Naturalists Field Club, The Herefordshire Pomona (1885)
- BRADDICK'S NONPAREIL.
[Syn : Ditton Nonpareil?]
This variety was raised by John Braddick, Esq., of Thames Ditton. It is figured by Ronalds, Pl. xxxiv.
Description.—Fruit: medium sized; roundish and flattened, inclining to oblate. Skin: smooth, greenish yellow in the shade, and brownish red next the sun, russetty round the eye, and partially covered on the other portions of the surface with patches of brown russet. Eye: set in a deep, round and even basin. Stalk: half an inch long, inserted in a round and rather shallow cavity. Flesh: yellowish, rich, sugary, and aromatic.
One of the best winter dessert apples, and by many considered more sweet and tender than the Old Nonpareil. It is in season from November to April.
The tree is small and grows slenderly, but it is very hardy and an excellent bearer. It succeeds well on the paradise stock, and should be grown in every garden.
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)Braddick's Nonpareil.
Originated at Surrey, England.
Fruit small, roundish conical, or flattened at base, yellowish, with brownish red in the sun, and russet near the calyx. Flesh yellowish, rich, sugary, aromatic. October, December. (Lind.)