How to Easily Collect Apples and Other Orchard Fruit

From The American Agriculturist, 1866

Mr. G. B. Green, Hudson, N.Y., finding hand picking too slow, and wishing to avoid the stones and dirt that will be mixed with apples when gathered from the ground, contrived the device shown in the engraving. It consists of a spread made of stout burlap, 20 feet square, bound on the edges. In the center is a hole large enough to encircle the tree, and provided with a drawing ~tring to fasten it to the trunk. From this hole is an opening to one side of the spread, to allow it to be put around the tree, and the opening is afterwards laced up by means of a string running through eyelet holes. In each of the corners of the spread a strong eyelet hole is worked-or what is better, an iron eye may be inserted. The spread being placed around the tree, three of the corners are raised up and stretched out by means of slender poles, in such a manner, that the corner without a pole will be the lowest. Under this corner is placed a barrel, or wagon if the tree be a tall one. The apples are shaken down on to the sheet, and roll towards the lower corner, where they are caught.