The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1889-08-03
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ON A BIG 'POSSUM FARM.
THRocKMoRToN HAS EIGHT HUM
DREO OF THE FUNNY THINGS.

His Farm Near Grinin, Ga, Presents Most
Singular sight-Au Immense Orchard OF
Persimmon Trees-The Way the 'Possums
Fight When Feeding Time Comes.
| A few miles west of Griffin is the home
of Mr. William Throckmorton. Mr..
Throckmorton is the proprietor of the
most unique and remunerative farm in
Georgia. 1t is the "Lime Creek 'Possum
farm"
On the very crest of well wooded hill
is comfortable cottage surrounded by
beautifulshade trees. At the foot of the
hill is pretty branch, running through
the very center of a ten acre persimmon
grove inclosed within high board fence.
The persimnon trees are interspersed
with quantity Of old hollow trees and
hollow logs planted in the ground.
WHAT AN EXPERT SAW.
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 long, black stem. But appearances
were deceptive. 1t was not fruit, but
between seven and eight hundred pos
sums taking their afternoon siesta. Our
party were somewhat unacquainted with
the habits Of the Georgia 'possum, and
consequently piled question after ques-
ton to our highly amused hosts. | now
consider myself 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 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 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 her
self once or twice, grabbed her tail with
her fore paws and climbed up it to the
limb, which she caught with her claws,
untwisted her tail and pulled it 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. Reach
ing 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.
BAKED 'PossUM AND 'TATERs.
They were of all sizes. Some would
barely weigh half pound, while others
would tip the scales at thirty The pos
sum, when hungry, utters sound which
is a cross between new and 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 PEE
culiar sound, reminding one of am army |
of soldiers moaning over the death of |
their general, when through gate
negro pushed a wheelbarrow, heaping |
full Of all kinds of trash and slops-con- |
sisting of fruit pealings, vegetables, |
meats, bones and bread. AS he hove in /
sight the scene among the 'possums re-
minded one of feeding time in a menag- |
erie. The little ugly animals screamed |
and scratched and hit at one another |
until the negro had scattered the con-
tents of the wheelbarrow over the |
ground. Then, although it was well |
scattered, all wanted to eat in one place 1
just like hogs, and there was considera-
bic more scratching and biting. But |
this did not last long, for the rations /
were soon consumed by the great drove
of 'possums, and they commenced to dis
perse, seemingly contented, and this
time climbed the persimmon trees.
During the persimmon season the pos
sums are not fed at all, for II is ON this
fruit they become rolling fat and ready
for market.
Mr.. Throckmorton ships five hundred
to eastern points and the cities through
out Georgia. They average him 81 each,
and he makes quite a good thing out of
it, as they are practically no expense to
him. In shipping TO Atlanta and Geor-
gia points they are generally dressed,
but the majority go to Washington and
are shipped there alive. The large ship
ments TO Washington are perhaps due to
the average southern congressman'sfo fond
ness for "baked 'possum and 'taters. -
Griffin (Ga.) Cor. Atlanta Constitution.