HOME SUPPLIES. 



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Any man who has one or more pershnmon trees on his 

 lands, or near at hand, possesses just so many ready-made 

 'possum traps, for the animal is extravagantly fond of the 

 wild persimmons that grow throughout Florida, so much 

 so that its fondness for this fruit has become proverbial, 

 and it will travel for miles, if necessary, for the happiness 

 of hanging head down in a persimmon tree and using its 

 forepaws as hands with which to fill its mouth with the 

 coveted fruit. 



An experienced 'possum hunter will always seek the 

 neighborhood of these trees during their fruiting season, 

 and, nine times out of ten, one or more of the creatures 

 sought will be found among the branches, their exact po- 

 sition being revealed by blazing torches in the hands of 

 their pursuers, when a few sure shots bring them tumbling 

 to the ground. 



Sometimes the '"possum hunts" are organized by ne- 

 groes, who have only their dogs as guides and their hatch- 

 ets and axes as weapons. In these cases the tree that 

 shelters the 'possum is surrounded by an eager torch- 

 bearing group, while two of their number with SAvift 

 blows from their axes lay low the tree — it falls, and with 

 it the unlucky 'possum to meet the eager hatchets aimed 

 at its life. 



Of all creatures, the opossum is one of the most easily 

 trapped. Cunning as it is in some respects, it is exceed- 

 ingly simple in others, and a rude trap that a rat or even 

 a rabbit would shun is perfectly effectual for the opossum. 

 Leave open a straight and broad path for its escape, and 

 fix a trap in a narrow, crooked corner of exit, and it will 

 choose the latter, preferring the twisted by-ways of the 

 world, just as do so many of its human compatriots. 



Of birds that may be utilized for the table their name 

 is legion, and any family that numbers among it a man or 



