Superb Sweet

Apple

Origin/History

Raised by Jacob Deane (also spelled "Dean") of Mansfield, Massachusetts. The variety is native to Massachusetts. According to Warder, it is worthy of more attention than it has received, though its period of maturity makes it less valuable than it would otherwise be.

Tree

Vigorous and productive.

Fruit

Size: Rather large (Downing, Elliott, Thomas); above medium (Warder).

Form: Roundish. Downing describes it as roundish, inclining to conic.

Stem: Long, inserted in a deep cavity.

Cavity: Regular and deep (Warder); deep (Downing, Elliott).

Calyx: Large, open.

Basin: Rather shallow and broad (Warder); broad (Downing, Elliott).

Skin: Smooth (Warder), pale yellow. Warder describes it as often shaded with red. Downing describes it as shaded, splashed, and mottled with red. Elliott describes it as having much red in the sun.

Flesh/Flavor: White, very tender, juicy, sweet, rich. Elliott adds "high-flavored." Warder describes the flesh as fine grained. Downing rates it good to very good.

Core/Seeds: Core large (Downing).

Season

September and October in Massachusetts (all sources agree; Warder attributes this to Cole, as does Elliott).

Uses

Not described in source.

Subtypes/Variants

Not described in source.

Book Sources

Described in 4 period pomological works

Nursery Catalog Sources

Found in 2 catalogs (1901–1913) from Illinois

Benjamin Buckman (personal inventory) , Farmingdale , Illinois — 1901
Benjamin Buckman (personal inventory) , Farmingdale , Illinois — 1913

View original book sources (4)

Superb Sweet.

This variety is worthy of more attention than it has received; native of Massachusetts, where it is a vigorous and productive tree. Its period of maturity makes it less valuable than it would otherwise be. Fruit above medium, roundish; Surface smooth, of a pale yellow color, often shaded with red. Basin rather shallow, broad; Calyx large, open. Cavity regular, deep; Stalk long. Flesh white, fine grained, tender, juicy; Flavor rich, sweet. Cole gives its season as September and October, in Massachusetts.

— John A. Warder, American Pomology: Apples (1867)

Superb Sweet.

Raised by Jacob Deane, Mansfield, Mass. Tree vigorous, productive.

Fruit rather large, roundish, inclining to conic, pale yellow, shaded, splashed and mottled with red. Stalk long, inserted in a deep cavity. Calyx large, open. Basin broad. Flesh white, very tender, juicy, sweet, rich. Core large. Good to very good. September, October.

— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)

Superb Sweet. Raised by Jacob Dean, Mansfield, Mass. Tree, vigorous, productive. Fruit, rather large, roundish, pale yellow, much red in the sun : stalk, long, inserted in a deep cavity ; calyx, large, open ; basin, broad ; flesh, white, very tender, juicy, sweet, rich, high-flavored. September and October. (Cole.)

— F.R. Elliott, The Western Fruit Book (1865)

Superb Sweet. Large, roundish, yellow and red; tender, rich, sweet. Autumn. Mass.

— John J. Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903)