Bromley
Apple
Bromley
Origin/History
A very old variety spread through the orchards of Gloucestershire and Herefordshire, but not abundant in the latter county. It is without any known history. The variety is held in high esteem in Gloucestershire.
Tree
The tree grows to a large size and spreads broadly, but is considered rather shy in bearing. For this reason, it has not been much propagated in recent years.
Fruit
Form and Size: Medium size, roundish and flattened, very uneven and angular on the sides, knobbed both at the crown and the base.
Skin: Bright yellow, much covered with firm broken streaks of crimson nearly over the whole surface, but especially where exposed to the sun. Russety all over the base, whence it extends in lines up the sides.
Stem: Straight and stout, from half to three quarters of an inch long, set in a deep cavity.
Calyx: Closed, with broad, flat, convergent segments, set in a deep angular basin. Tube funnel-shaped; stamens basal.
Flesh: Yellowish, firm, and somewhat woolly in texture.
Juice and Flavor: Pale, plentiful, fairly sweet, and with a brisk acidity.
Core: Cells of the core open.
Season
Late apple.
Storage
Keeps well.
Uses
Cooks well; as a sauce apple is unsurpassed. It will sell well in the market. It is held in high esteem in Gloucestershire for cider production, where some consider it makes a strong good cider next to Skyrmes Kernel (strong but not sweet). However, analytical data does not indicate any great merit as a cider apple.
Analytical Composition
Analysis of the Bromley apple juice (season 1880), by Mr. With:
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Density of fresh juice | 1.033 |
| Density after 24 hours exposure to air | 1.035 |
Per 100 parts by weight of fresh juice:
| Component | Parts |
|---|---|
| Sugar | 12.10 |
| Tannin, Mucilage, Salts, &c. | 1.30 |
| Water | 86.60 |
Book Sources
Described in 1 period pomological work
View original book sources (1)
— Woolhope Naturalists Field Club, The Herefordshire Pomona (1885)BROMLEY.
[Syn : Old Bromley.]
A very old variety spread through the Orchards of Gloucestershire and Herefordshire, but not abundant in the latter county. It is without any known history.
Description.—Fruit: medium size, roundish and flattened, very uneven and angular on the sides ; and knobbed both at the crown and the base. Skin : bright yellow, much covered with firm broken streaks of crimson nearly over the whole surface, but especially where exposed to the sun ; russety all over the base, whence it extends in lines up the sides. Eye : closed, with broad, flat, convergent segments, set in a deep angular basin : tube, funnel shaped : stamens, basal. Stalk : straight and stout, from half to three quarters of an inch long, set in a deep cavity. Flesh : yellowish, firm and somewhat woolly in texture. Juice : pale, plentiful, fairly sweet, and with a brisk acidity. Cells of the core open.
Mr. With's analysis of the Bromley Apple (season 1880), is as follows :— Density of fresh juice ... ... ... ... 1·033 Ditto after 24 hours exposure to air... ... ... 1·035 One hundred parts by weight of fresh juice yield :— Sugar ... ... ... ... ... 12·10 Tannin, Mucilage, Salts, &c. ... ... ... 1·30 Water ... ... ... ... ... 86·6
The analysis of the juice of this fruit does not indicate any great merit as a cider apple, but it is held in high esteem in Gloucestershire where some think it makes a strong good cider next to Skyrmes Kernel, strong but not sweet. It cooks well ; and as a sauce apple is unsurpassed.
It is a late apple ; keeps well ; and will sell well in the market—all great merits, that no doubt enable it to maintain its place in the esteem of the growers.
The tree grows to a large size and spreads broadly, but it is considered rather shy in bearing, and for this reason has not been much propagated of late years.