The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1889-07-06
A 'PoSsUM FARM.

morton, proprietor Of the most unique |
aud remunerative farm in Georgia. 1t
is the "Lime Greek 'Possum Farm.
ON the very crest of well-wooded |
hill is a comfortable cottage surround
ed by beautiful shade trees. At the foot
Of the hill is pretty branch, running
through the very centre of ten acre
persimmon grove inelosed within a
high board fence. The persimmon
trees are interspersed with a quantity
of old hollow trees and hollow logs
planted in the ground. This is the
'possum farm.
II 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 trees by long, black stem.
But appearances were deceptive. IL
was not fruit, but between seven and
eight hundred 'possums taking their
afternoon siesta Our party were
somewhat unacquainted with tho
habits oil the Georgia 'possun and con-
sequcntly Piled question after question
to our highly amused host | now
consider myself an expert ON the pos
sun and here is what learned and
saw:
The 'possum, when desiring to take
nap, SIMPLY Climbs the most convent
cnt tree, walks out on limb, wraps
his tail one-and-a-half times around
and swings his body out into space.
Ills legs and feet are drawn close into
his body and his head drawn up be-
tween his shoulders until II forms an
almost perfect ball and appears to be
a great pear covered with white fur
Tho sun was slowly setting below
the distant pine mountains aud w
were still gazing at the queer oDlecti
In amused wonder when half dozer
little possums emerged from the poek
ct of their mother, ran up her tail an'
commenced playing on the limb above
In few minutes tins marsupis
stretched her head and then her for
feet out. She swung herself once o
twice, grabbed her tail with her for
paws and climbed up II to the liml
which she caught with her claws, III
twisted her tail and pulled up. Iiardl
had she balanced herself whom th
half dozen young ones climbed int
her pocket and were hid from view
She then climbed down the tre'
!, While this was gong on more tha
seven hundred others had awaked an
were coming down from the tree
!, Reaching the ground each one mad
for the creek, drank and then ran u
the hill to pen In which they wer
to be fed.
+, Thcy were of all sizes. Some woul
: barely weigh half pound, while otl
crs would tip the scale at thirty. Th
'possum when hungry uttcrs a soun
which Is cross between new and
!, moan. Over seven hundred 'possum
were together SO thick that the groun
could not be seen between them, an
the small ones had been forced upo
!, the backs of the larger. All were ui
tering this peculiar sound, rcmlndin
one of an army of soldiers moanin
over the death of their general, whe
: through a gate negro pushed
!, wheelbarrow, heaping full Of all kind
of trash and slops-consisting Of fru
pealings, vegetables, meats, bones an
bread. AS he hove in sight the seen
!, among the 'possums rosembled one
feeding time In menageric. The II
+, tic ugly animals screamed and scratcl
cd and bit at one another until Il
:, negro had scattered the contents Of Il
whcelbarrow over the ground. The
although It was well scattered,
wanted to cat in one place just Ill
!, hogs and there was considerable mo
! scratching and biting. But this d
:. not last long for the rations were soc
g consumed by the great drove of pc
= sums, and they commenced to disper
) : seemingly contented, and this TIN
climbed the persimmon trees.
. During the perslmmon season Il
'possums are not fed at all, for 1t Is I
= this fruit they become rolling fat al
!. !. ready for market.
y Mr.. Throckmorton will probab
: : ship five hundred to eastern points al
= : the cities throughout Georgia Il
e winter. They will average him O
: dollar each, and he makes quitca go'
thing out of IL, as they are practical
no expense to him. In shipping
Atlanta and Georgia points they a
IN generally dressed, but the most 90
m Washington aud are shipped the
IN alive. The large shipments TO Wa'
be ington arc perhaps due to the Southe
n. Congrcssman's fondncss for "bak
w. 'possum and 'taters."
M Congressman Stewart who con
mr. from Griffin, and Congressman Barn
re of Augusta, are perhaps the most
he veteratc 'possum eaters in Congre
m. and II has already leaked out that th'
n two distinguished Georgians hd
,ou ordered two dozen Of Mr.. Thro
ar. morton's finest and couple of bush
An of sweet potatoes to be sent to them
ck the Metropolitan Hotel next Christm