The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1889-07-26
ON A BIG 'P0SSUM FARM.
THROckMoRToN HAS EIGHT HUN
DRED OF THE FUNNY THINGS.

His Farm Near Griffin, Ga, Presents Most
Singular sight--An Immense Orchard OF
Persimmon Trees-Tbe 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 "IAme Creek Postum
farm"
On the very crest of well wooded hill
is a comfortable cottage surrounded by
beautiful shade 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 persimmon 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 uninitated 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
sums taking their afternoon siesta. Our
party were somewhat unacquainted with
the habits Of the Georgia 'possum, and
consequently piled question after ques-
tion 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 a
nap, simply climbs the most convenient
tree, walks out on 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 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 1t 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
pen in which they were to be fed.
BAKED 'PossUM AND 'TATERs.
They were of all sizes. Some would
barely weigh a half pound, while others
would tip the scales at thirty. The pos
sum, when hungry, utters sound which
is cross between a 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 pc
culiar sound, reminding one of an army
of soldiers moaning over the death of
their general, when through "a gate a
negro pushed wheelbarrow, heaping
full of all kinds of trash and slops-con-
pio'iio VI iiuiU pSuiihBo, NCbetdpicp,
meats, bones and bread. As he hove in
sight the scene among the 'possums re-
minded one of feeding time in 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
| just like hogs, and there was considera.
BILE 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 thi:
time climbed the persimmon trees.
During the persimmon season the pos
sums are not fed at all, FOR it is on thi,
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 o
it, as they are practically no expense t.
him. In shipping to Atlanta and Geor
gia points they are generally dressed
but the majority go to Washington ant
are shipped there alive. The large ship
ments to Washington are perhaps due t,
the average southern congressman 5 fond
ness for baked 'possum and 'taters."-
Griffin (Ga.) Cor. Atlanta Constitution.