Bramley's Seedling
Apple
Veitch's Fruit Trees (1911)
Bramley's Seedling
Origin / History
Raised by Mr. Bramley, a shoemaker, of Southwell, Notts. Introduced by Messrs. Merryweather in 1876. E. A. Bunyard (1920) calls it "the most popular and profitable of cooking apples." The George Bunyard catalog (1914) calls it "the most reliable cooking variety," and Veitch (1911) calls it "one of the best kitchen varieties." Honored "F.C., R.H.S." (George Bunyard catalog, 1901); Veitch records "F.C.C."
Tree
Vigorous to extremely vigorous, of spreading habit. E. A. Bunyard calls it "ironclad in constitution, growing wherever apples will grow." He says it makes a very large spreading tree that should be planted at least thirty feet apart in orchards. Veitch calls it hardy and a robust and healthy grower. Leaf very large, dark, round, slightly upfolded, coarsely curved serrate (E. A. Bunyard).
Productive to extremely prolific. Very regularly fertile once the tree is developed (E. A. Bunyard); a free and constant bearer when established (George Bunyard catalog, 1901).
Succeeds on damp and heavy soils and also on dry ones (George Bunyard catalog, 1914). On Paradise stock and pruned slightly, it makes a fertile garden tree and is "grand as a bush" (George Bunyard catalog, 1901). Veitch says it forms a fine pyramid on either stock and a good standard.
Fruit
Size: Large to very large, 3¾ by 2¾ (E. A. Bunyard).
Form: Flat, round, irregular.
Stem: Short.
Cavity: Wide, deep, slightly russet.
Calyx: Eye closed.
Basin: Broad, deep, slightly wrinkled.
Skin: Green to greenish yellow, with a red to dull red flush or cheek; the red flush with broad broken stripes (E. A. Bunyard).
Dots: Not described in source.
Flesh and flavor: Flesh pale yellow, firm, solid, juicy. Flavor acid; "first-rate, brisk acid flavour" (George Bunyard catalog, 1901).
Core and seeds: Not described in source.
Season
The recorded season runs from October to March. Two sources begin it in November, ending in January or March. Veitch gives January to March, and Rivers says it ripens in October. A good keeper; "a valuable heavy late keeper" (George Bunyard catalog, 1901).
Uses
Culinary; cooks frothy (George Bunyard catalog, 1914). A fine orchard fruit (George Bunyard catalog, 1901). Rivers calls it "a very fine and good cooking apple."
Subtypes / Variants
Not described in source.
Other
E. A. Bunyard cites "Her. Pom., 73." Veitch refers to an illustration on page 17 of his catalog. The George Bunyard catalog (1901) priced standards at 2/6 and 1/6.
Book Sources
Described in 1 period pomological work
Nursery Catalog Sources
Found in 8 catalogs (1894–1917) from England, Oregon
- Woodburn Nurseries , Woodburn, Marion Co. , Oregon — 1894
- Kelway & Son , Langport, Somerset , England — 1897
- George Bunyard & Co. , Royal Nurseries, Maidstone, Kent , England — 1900
- Central Experimental Farm , Dominion Department of Agriculture, Agassiz, British Columbia (under test; Bulletin No. 3, Second Series) — 1900
- James Veitch & Sons , Ltd., Royal Exotic Nursery, Chelsea, London (also Coombe Wood, Langley, and Feltham) , England — 1911
- Thomas Rivers & Son , Sawbridgeworth, Hertfordshire , England — 1913
- George Bunyard & Co. , Royal Nurseries, Maidstone, Kent , England — 1914
- George Bunyard & Co. , Royal Nurseries, Maidstone, Kent , England — 1917
View original book sources (5)
— E.A. Bunyard, A Handbook of Hardy Fruits (1920)BRAMLEYS SEEDLING. Her. Pom., 73. Culinary, November to March, large, 3¾ by 2¾, flat, round, irregular. Colour greenish-yellow, red flush with broad broken stripes. Flesh firm, juicy, pale yellow, acid. Eye, closed in a broad, deep, slightly wrinkled basin. Stem, short, in a wide deep, slightly russet cavity. Growth, extremely vigorous; very regularly fertile when the tree is developed. Leaf, very large, dark, round, slightly upfolded, coarsely curved serrate. Origin, raised by Mr. Bramley, a shoemaker, of Southwell, Notts. Introduced by Messrs. Merryweather, in 1876. This is the most popular and profitable of cooking apples; ironclad in constitution, growing wherever apples will grow. It makes a very large spreading tree and should be planted at least thirty feet apart in orchards.
Brandy Apple: see Golden Harvey.
— George Bunyard & Co., George Bunyard Fruit Catalogue (1901) (1901)Large, fine orchard fruit, making a vigorous tree. A valuable heavy late keeper, free and constant bearer when established; flat, with a dull red cheek, first-rate, brisk acid flavour. Grown on Paradise stock, pruned slightly, it makes a fertile garden tree, and is grand as a bush. Standards, 2/6 and 1/6. F.C., R.H.S.
— James Veitch & Sons, Veitch's Fruit Trees (1911) (1911)large, flesh solid, a good keeper, one of the best kitchen varieties, tree hardy, robust and healthy grower, forming a fine pyramid on either stock, and a good standard. F.C.C. See illustration page 17 ... Jan. to Mar.
— George Bunyard & Co., George Bunyard Catalog of Fruit Trees (1914) (1914)Culinary; Nov.-Jan. Very large, flat, green, dull red cheek, acid, cooking frothy; spreading vigorous habit; extremely prolific and the most reliable cooking variety; succeeds on damp and heavy soils and also on dry ones. Raised by Mr. Bramley of Southwell, and introduced by Messrs. Merryweather in 1876.
— Thomas Rivers & Son, Thomas Rivers Catalogue of Fruits (1914) (1914)very large and productive; a very fine and good cooking apple; ripens in October.