Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1889-09-17
ON 4 .PossuM FARM.
Raisiag the Queer Animals ny Hundreds
For the Market.

Ratsiag the Queer Animals ny Hundreds
For the Market.
Ii was In the early afternoon when
We arrived. and to the uninitiated the
farm appeared to be an immense fruit
orchard bearing ~ oblopg. whitish
sort OF fruit hanging from the dead
limbs or the trees by a long black
stem. But appearances we're decep-
tive IL was not fruit but between
seven and eight hundred 'possums
taking their afternoon siesta Our
party was somewhat unscquainted
with the habits OF the Georgia pos
sum. and. consequently. piled ques-
tion after question TO our highly
amused hosts. | now consider myself
IA expert on the 'possurn. and hero Is
what ] Learned and saw:
The 'possum, when desiring 20 take
n nap. simply climbs the most conven-
lent tree. walks GA, on . limb. wraps
his tail one and a half times around
and swings his body out into space.
HIS legs and teet are drawn close into
his body and his head drawn up be-
iween his shoulders until II forms an
almost perfect bali and appears 10 DO
. grea; pear covered with white tar,
The sun Vas slowly setting below
the distant pine mountains, aud Ne
we're siili 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 Ia a few minutes this
rnarsuplal stretched her head and
then her fore feet out She swung
bersei. once or twice. grabbed her tail
with her forepaws. and climbed up II
10 The limb. which she raught with
her CLAWS. aniwisiod her tail and
pulled up. Hardly had she balanced
nersesf when the half deEen young
ones climbed into her pocket and we're
hid from view. She then climbed
dcsn the tree While this wss going
GA more than seven hundred others
had awakened and we're coming down
from tho trees. Reaching the ground
each one made for the creek. drank.
and then ran up the hill TO a pen in
which they were 10 be fed.
They we're OF ali sizes. Some would
barely weigh hall pound. while others
would tip the scales Of thirty. The
'possum. when hungry. utters sound
which Ia "a cross between a nrsw aud
moan Over scvea hundred 'pcssums
we're together 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 ut
tering this peculiar sound. reminding
one Of an army 81 soldiers moaning
over the death OF their general. when
through the gate negro pushed
wheeibarrow, heaping full OF all kinds
OF trash and siops -consisting OF fruit
Paisngs. vegetables. meats. bones and
bread. As he hove In sigh, the scene
among the 'possums reminded one OF
feeding time in n menageria. The
little ugly animals screa med and
scratched and bit at one another until
the negro had scattered the contents
OF the wheelbarrow over the ground
Aftis RttA3Nru ~ vas well stutieFtu,
all wanted 10 cal in one place just like
hegs and there was considerable more
scratching and biting. But this do
no, last long. for the raiioHs we're
soon consumed by the great drove OF
'possums. and they commenced to dis
pcrse- seemengly contented. and thir
time climbed the persimmon trees
During the persimmon season the pos
sutns are not led at all. for 1t is on this
fruit they become rolling fat and ready
for market Mr.. Throck morton will
probably ship 500 10 Eastern points
and the cities throughout Georgia this
winter They will average him on,
dollar each. and he makes quite
eood thing out OF ii. AS they are prac-
iieally no expense 10 him. In shipping
10 Atlanta and Georgia points they
are generally dressed. but the majcrit,
go 10 Washington and are shipped
alive. The large shipments to Wash.
ingion are perhaps due to the average
Southern Congressinan's fondme-s for
baked 'possum and 'ta,ers "-Gritr
tGa Cor. Atlanta Constitution.