The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1889-09-07
4 'POSsUM FARM.
One Of the Sights of Georgia

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Have you ever seen 'possun
farm !?
If you have not, take the frs
train and come to Griffin. You viii
never regret it.
A few miles west of Griffin is the
home of William Throckmorton
Mr.. Throckmorton is the proprietor
of the most unique and remunera
tive farm in Georgia. 1t is the Lime
Greek 'Possum Farm"
1t was in the early afternoon
when we arrived, and to the unini.
tiated the farm appeared to be an
immense fruit orchard, bearing an
oblong whitish sort of fruit hanging
from the dead limbs of the trees by
long, black stem. But appearan-
ces were deceptive. 1t was not fruit,
but between seven and eight hun
dred 'possums taking their after
noon siesta.
The 'possum, when desiring to
take a nap, simply climbs the
most convenient tree, walks out on
a limb, wraps his tail one and a
half times around and swings his
body out into space. His legs and
feet are drawn close into his body
and his head drawn up between his
shoulders until it forms an almost
perfect ball and appears to be great
pear covered with white fur.
The sun was slowly setting below
the distant pine mountains and we
were still gazing at the queer OBJ
jects in amused wonder, when half
dozen little 'possums emerged from
the pocket of their mother, ran up
her tail and commenced playing on
the limb above. In few minutes
this marsupial stretched her head
and then her fore feet out. She
swung herself once or twice, grab
bed her tail with her forepaws and
climbed up it 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 seven hundred others had
awakened and were coming down
from the trees. Reaching the ground
each one made for the creek, drank
and then ran up the hill to a pen in
which they were to be fed.
They were Of all sizes. Some
would barely weigh a half-pound,
while others would tip the scales at
thirty. The 'possum, when hum
cry, utters a sound which is a cross
between a NEW and a moan. Over
seven hundred 'possums were to-
gether so thick that the ground
could not be seen between them,
and the small ones had been forced
upon the backs of the larger. All
were uttering this peculiar sound,
reminding one of an army of sol
diers moaning over the death of
their General, when through a gate
a negro pushed a wheelbarrow,
heaping full of all kinds of trash
and slops-consisting of fruit peel
ings, vegetables, meats, bones and
bread. AS he hove in sight the
scene among the 'possums reminded
one of feeding-time in menagerie.
The little ugly animals screamed
and scratched and hit at one an
other until the negro had scattered
the contents of the wheelbarrow
over the ground. Then, although
it was we'll scattered, all wanted to
eat in one place, just like hogs, and
there was considerable more scratch
ing and biting. But this did not
last long, for the rations were soon
consumed by the great drove of
'possums, and they commenced to
disperse, seemingly contented, and
this time climbed the persimmon
trees.
During the persimmon season
the 'possums are not fed at all, for
it is on this fruit they become roll
ing fat and ready for market.
Mr.. Thrckmorton will probably
ship 500 to eastern points and the
cities throughout Georgia this win
ter. They will average him 81 each,
and he makes quite good thing
out of it, as they are practically no
expense to him. In shipping to
Atlanta and Georgia points they
ire generally dressed, but the ma
ority go to Washington and are
shipped there alive. The large ship
ments to Washington are perhaps
1ue to the average Southern Con-
yressman's fondness for "baked
possum and 'taters." Congressman
Stewart, who comes from Griffin,
md Congressman Barnes of Angus
"a are perhaps the most inveterate
possum eaters in Congress, and it
has already leaked out that these
,wo distinguished Georgians have
ordered two dozen of Mr.. Trock-
norton's finest and a couple of
bushels of sweet potatoes to be sent
% them at the Metropolitan Hotel
next Christmas. It is supposed