Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-08-10
4 'PusSUh Farm.
WILLIAM THR0CKM0RToN's EIGHT
HUNDRED 'POSsUMs.
A Griffin, Georgia, Correspondent of tn,
ATLANTA Constitution is Guilty
of the Following:
Have you ever seen 'possum farm ?

IdNS you ever SScu q pOSSuA Idrh
Ifyou have not, take the first train and
come to Griffin. You viii never regret it
A few miles west of Griffin is the home
of William Throckmorton. Mr. Throck,
morton is the proprietor of the most unique
and remunerative farm in Georgia. 1t is
the Cline Greek 'Possum Farm"
On the very crest of well-wooded hill
is comfortable cottage surrounded by
beautiful shade trees. At the foot of the
hill is a pretty branch, running through
the very center of ten-acre persimmon
grove inclosed within high board fence.
The persimmon trees are interspersed with
a quantity of old hollow trees and hollow
logs planted in the ground
1t was in the early afternoon when we
arrived, and to the uninitiated 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 a. long black stem. But appearances
were deceptive. 1t was not fruit, but be-
tNSSh pOs6uI1S
taking their afternoon siesta. Our party,
the guests Of Messrs. W. J. Rincaid and
Seaton Grantland, who are, by the way,
interested in the farm, were somewhat
unacquainted with the habits of the Geor-
gia 'possdm, and consequently piled ques-
ton after question to our highly amused
hosts. | now consider myself an expert on
the 'possum, and here is what l learned and
saw:
The possum, when desiring to take a
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 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 objects in amused
wonder when a half-dozen little 'possoms
emerged from the pocket Of their mother,
ran up her tail and commenced playing on
the limb above. In a few minutes this
marsupial stretched her head and then her
forefeet out. She swung herself once or
twice, grabbed her tail with her forepaws
and climbed up into the limb, which she
caught with her claw, UNFINISHED 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 were coming
down from the trees. Redching 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 were Of all sizes. Some would
barely weigh half a pound, while others
would tip the scales at thirty. The pos
sum, when hungry, utters a sound which
Is cross between NEW and moan
Over seven hundred 'possdms were to-
gether so thick that the ground could not
be seen between them, and the small ones
had heen 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 Cen
eral, when through gate negro pushed
a wheel-barrow, 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 another until
the negro had scattered the contents of
the wheelbarrow over the ground.
Then, although it was well scattered, all
wanted to eat in one place, just like
hogs, and there was considerable more
scratching and biting. But this did
not last long, for the rations were soon con-
sumed by the great drove of 'possums and
they commenced to disperse, seemingly
contented, and this time climbed the per
simmon trees.
During the persimmon season the pos
sums are not fed at all, for it is on this
fruit they become rolling fat and ready for
market
Mr.. Throckmorton will probably ship
five hundred to Eastern points and the
cities throughout Georgia this winter.
They will average him one dollar 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 are generally dressed, but the ma
jority go to Washington and are shipped
there alive. The large shipments to Wash
ington are perhaps due to the average
Southern Congressman's fondness for
'baked 'possum and 'taters." Congressman
Stewart, who comes from Griffin, and Con-
gresham Barnes, of Augusta, are per-
haps the most inveterate 'possum
eaters in Congress, and it has already
leaked out that these two distin-
guished Georgians have ordered two dozen
of Mr.. Throckmorton's finest and couple
of bushels of sweet potatoes to be sent to
them at the Metropolitan Hotel next
Christmas. 1t is supposed they intend
giving an old-fashioned Georgia 'possum
bake, complimentary to- the Democratic
minority in the Fifty-frst Congress.