The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1889-07-25

Have you ever seen possum farm
II you have not take the first train an,
come to Griffin, You will never regret il
A few miles west Of Griffin is the home o
William Throckmorton. Mr.. Throckmor
ton is the proprietor Of tho most uniau,
and remunerative farm in Georgia. II /.
the Lime Creek Possum Farm.
On the crest Of well wooded hill ia =
comfortable cottage surrounded by bean
tiful shade trees, A. the foot OF the hill
is pretty branch, running through the
centre OF ten'acre persimmon grove in
closed with high board fence The pei.
slmmon trees are interspsed with qusnti
ty OF old hollow trees and hollow logs
planted 10 the ground. This is the possum
farm
1t was in the early afternoon when we
arrived, and TO the uninitisted the farm
appeared TO be an immense fruit orchard
bearing an oblong whitish sort Of frnit
hanging from the dead limbs OF the trees
by long, black stem. But appearance es
were deceptive. II was not fruit, but be :
tween 700 and 800 'possums taking their
afternoon siesta. Our party, the guests
OF W. j. Kincaid and Seaton Grantland
who are, by the way. interested in the
farm, were somewhat unscquainted with
the habits Of the Georgia possum, and
consequently piled question after question
to our highly amused hosts. | now con.
slider myself an expert on the 'possum, and
here is what / learned and saw:
The possum, when desiring to take q
nap. simply climbs the most convenient
tree. walks out on limb. wraps his tail
one and half times around and swings
his body out into space. His legs and
feet are drawn up between his shoulders
until it forms an almost perfect ball, aud
appears to be great pear covered with
white fur
The sun was slowly setting below the
distant pine mountains and we we're still
gazing at the queer objects in amused won
der when half dozen little 'possums EN-
erged from the pocket OF their mother, ran
up her tail and commenced playing on the
limb above. In q few minutes this mar.
supial stretched her head and then her
fore feet out She swung herself once or
twice, grabbed her tail with her fore paws
aud climbed up to the limb, which she
caught with her claws, untwisted her tail
and pulled up. Hardly had she balanced
herself when the half dozen young ones
climbed into her pocket and were hid
from view. She then climbed down the
tree.
While this was going on more than 700
others had awakened and we're coming
down from the trees Reaching the ground
each one made for the creek, drank and
then ran up the hill to pen In which they
were to be fed
They we're oil sizes Some would bare
y weigh half pound, while others would
lip the scales at thirty. The 'possum.
when hungry, utters sound which is
ross between NEW and moan. Over
900 'possums were together so tbirk that
he ground could not be seen between !
hem, and the small ones had been forced
lpon the backs OF the larger. All were
lttering this peculiar sound, reminding y
me OF on army Of soldiers moaning over .
he death Of their general, when through :
gate negro pushed wheelbarrow, heap d
ng full OF all kinds OF trash and elops,
onsisting OF fruit pealings, vegetables. o
heats, bones and bread. Az he hove in o
ight the scene among the possums re D
minded one OF feeding time IN q menage- u
10. The little ugly animals screamed. and 0
crstched. and bit at one another until the p
egro had scattered the contents of tho q
'heelbauow over the ground. Then, nl- L
lough II was well scattered. all wanted to al
At IN Que place just like hogs, and there u
as considerable more scratching and bit. aI
ng. Bat this did not last long. for the cl
Itions we're soon consumed by the great p
rove Of 'possnms, and they commenced ef
} disperse. seemingly contebied. and oi
ais time climbed the persimmon trees. 10
airing theperslmmon season the possums m
e not fed:st oil for i. Is on this frui, that sr
icy become rolling fat and are ready for sh
arket VI