Morning journal and courier., 1889-07-04
GRoRGIA,s ,PossUM FARM.

Where William ThrOekmorton Raises
 the Toolhsonee Animals for Market. [Grima (Ga.) Letter to the Atlanta Constitution
 Have you ever seen a 'possum farma If you have not take the first train and come to Griffin. You will never regret it.
 A few miles west of Griffin Is the home of Mr. William Throckmorton. Ar. Throck- morton is the proprietor of the most unique and remunerative farm in Georgia. It is the "T.ime Creek 'Possum Farm"
 On the very crest of well wooded hill is 0 comfortable cottage surrounded by beauti- full shade trees. At the foot of the hill Is pretty branch running through the very cen ter of ten acre persimmon grove, inclosed within high board fence. The persimmon trees are interspersed with quantity of old hollow trees and hollow logs planted in the ground This is the 'pessum farm.
 It YVES in the early afternoon when we ar rived, and to the uninitiated the farm ap- peared to ta an immense fruit orchard bear ing an oblong, whitish sort of fruit hanging from the dead limbs of the trees by long, black stem. But appearances were deoep- tive. It was not fruit, but between seven and eight hundred 'possums taking their af ternoon siesta. Our party, the guests of Msrsrs. w. J. Kincaid and Seaton Grant land, who are, by the way, interested in the farm, were somewhat unacauainted with the habits of the Georgia 'possum, and conse- quently piled question after question to our highly amused hosts. I now consider my- self an expert on the 'possum, and here is what learned and saw:
 The 'possum, when desiring to take nap, simply climbs the most convenient tree, walks out on a limb, wraps his tail one and half times around and swings his body out into space. His legs and feet are drawn close in to his body and his head drawn up between his shoulders until it forms an al- most perfect ball and appears to be great pear covered with white fur.
 The sun was slowly setting below the dis tant pine mountains and we were still gazing at the queer objects in amused wonder when half dozen little 'possums emerged from the pocket of their mother, ran up her tall and commenced playing on the limb above. In few minutes this marsupial stretched her head and then her fore-feet out. Shs swung herself once or twice, grabbed hel tail with her fore-paws and climbed up te the limb, which she caught with her claws untwisted her tail and pulled up. Hardly had she balanced herself when the half dog en young ones climbed into her pocket and were hid from view She then climbed dowy the tree.
 While this was going on more than sever | hundred others had awakened and wer, | coming down from the trees. Reaching tn, ground each one made for the creek, drank ! and then ran up the hill to Q pen in whicl they were to be fed.
 They were of all sizes. Some would bare ly weigh half pound, while others woult tip the scales at thirty. The possum, whel
 hungry, utters a sound which is 8 oross be tween a new and moan. Over seven hun
 drud 'possums were together, so thick tha the ground could not be seen between them and the small ones had been forced upon tne
 backs of the larger. All were utterlng tnls
 peculiar sound, reminding one Of an arm. M I:,
 of soldiers moaning over the death or tnei | general, when through gate 8 negro pusnee
 wheeibarrow, heaping full of al! kinds Q ! trash and slops- consisting of fruit peehngs
 vegetables, meats, bones and bread. AS n' hove in sight the scene among the 'possum
 reminded one of feeding-time in menage
 1ie. The little ugly animals screamed ant
 scratched and bit at one another until tn
 naoro had scattered the contents of tn
 wheelbarrow over the ground. Then, al
 though 1t was we'll scattered, all wanted t eat in one place just like hogs, and there wa considerable more scratching and biting But this did not last long, for the ration were soon consumed by the great drove ( 'possums, and they commenced to dispers