Captain Broad 
Syn. Capt. Broad, Captain Smith, John Broad, Small’s Admirable
 
Bittersweet Cider
 
1900’s Fowey, Cornwall
 
Self-Sterile (needs a pollinator)
 
Mid Harvester – October but keeps well until midwinter. 
 
Very vigorous ribbed apple variety which has a slight russet on the crown. The blossom is largely white with a pink tinge around the petal edges. Popular in the Golant cider belt as it has a good resistance to scab even in the humid maritime climate of the coastal valleys. Extremely heavy cropper. 
 
Once an extremely popular cider apple juiced up & down Cornwall, it even has a good cold storage potential of 2 months. It is largely found in the history books as ‘Small’s Admirable’ as the name Captain Broad has only recently been adopted. Scott in 1873 made quite a length entry for this variety, he states, ‘Admirable, Small’s, 1 size, 1st quality, November to December. Roundish ovate and flattened, obtusely angular on the sides; skin of a uniform lemon yellow colour; stalk long and slender; eye small and closed, set in rather a deep basin; flesh yellowish, firm, crisp, sweet, and agreeably acid, with a delicate perfume; an excellent kitchen and dessert apple. The tree bears abundantly, and is of dwarf habit, well calculated for a miniature orchard.’ 
 
It is not uncommon to find Capt. Broad in the hedgerows around orchards around the south west as this apple has great hardiness to Atlantic gales & driving rain. 
 
*DNA testing shows to be the same as 'Small’s Admirable’ from Colnbrook in Slough**