Dairy Odes.

        The sweet milkmaid of early days
        Her own household she ably sways,
        And her daughters now milk the cows,
        And her sons they now guide the plows.

        These pleasing changes on a farm
        Doth give to rural life a charm,
        Let occupation none upbraid,
        But honor plowman and milkmaid.

        For Burns with glory did endow
        And wove a garland round the plow,
        The source from which all wealth doth spring
        And happiness to all doth bring.

        Our muse it doth refuse to sing
        Of cheese made early in the spring,
        When cows give milk from spring fodder
        You cannot make a good cheddar.

        The quality is often vile
        Of cheese that is made in April,
        Therefore we think for that reason
        You should make later in the season.

        Cheese making now you should delay
        Until about the first of May.
        Then cows do feed on grassy field
        And rich milk they abundant yield.

        Ontario cannot compete
        With the Northwest in raising wheat,
        For cheaper there they it can grow
        So price in future may be low.

        Though this a hardship it may seem,
        Rejoice that you have got the cream,
        In this land of milk and honey,
        Where dairy farmers do make money.

        Utensils must be clean and sweet,
        So cheese with first class can compete,
        And daily polish up milk pans,
        Take pains with vats and with milk cans.

        And it is important matter
        To allow no stagnant water,
        But water from pure well or stream
        The cow must drink to give pure cream.

        Canadian breeds 'tis best to pair
        With breeds from the shire of Ayr,
        They thrive on our Canadian feed
        And are for milking splendid breed.

        Though 'gainst spring cheese some do mutter,
        Yet spring milk also makes bad butter,
        Then there doth arise the query
        How utilize it in the dairy:

        The milk it floats in great spring flood
        Though it is not so rich and good,
        Let us be thankful for this stream
        Of milk and also curds and cream.

        All dairymen their highest aims
        Should be to make the vale of Thames,
        Where milk doth so abundant flow,
        Dairyland of Ontario.

James McIntyre

James McIntyre was a Canadian poet, most notable for his poetry concerning cheese, cheese-making, dairying, and dairy products. Often referred to as 'The Cheese Poet,' McIntyre's work is celebrated for its earnestness and unintentional humor, making him both a beloved and an infamous figure in literary circles. He emigrated from Scotland to Canada in 1851 and settled in Ingersoll, Ontario, where he became a successful businessman and community leader.

James McIntyre

Niagara Dry.

James McIntyre, Simple Poetry

Oddfellowship Lines Read At Concert, 1883.

James McIntyre, Simple Poetry

Brantford.

James McIntyre, Simple Poetry

Child Made Happy.

James McIntyre, Simple Poetry

English

Suggested Poems

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Oxford Cheese Ode.

        The ancient poets ne'er did dream
        That Canada was land of cream,
        They ne'er imagined it could flow
        In this cold land of ice and snow,
        Where everything did solid freeze,
        They ne'er hoped or looked for cheese.

        A few years since our Oxford farms
        Were nearly robbed of all their charms,
        O'er cropped the weary land grew poor
        And nearly barren as a moor,
        But now their owners live at ease
        Rejoicing in their crop of cheese.

        And since they justly treat the soil,
        Are well rewarded for their toil,
        The land enriched by goodly cows
        Yields plenty now to fill their mows,
        Both wheat and barley, oats and peas,
        But still...

James McIntyre

Father Ranney, The Cheese Pioneer.

This is our earliest cheese ode. The Ingersoll factory has been removed to Thamesford.

        When Father Ranney left the States,
        In Canada to try the fates,
        He settled down in Dereham,
        Then no dairyman lived near him;
        He was the first there to squeeze
        His cows' milk into good cheese,
        And at each Provincial show
        His famed cheese was all the go.

        Then long life to Father Ranney
        May he wealth and honour gain aye.

        He always took the first prize
        Both for quality and size,
        But many of his neighbors
        Now profit by his labors,
        And the ladies dress in silk
        From the proceeds of the milk,
        But those who buy their butter,

James McIntyre

Lines Read At A Dairymaids' Social, 1887.

Where the young lady waiters were dressed as dairymaids.

        Throughout the world they do extol
        The fame of our town Ingersoll,
        The capital of dairyland,
        To-night it seems like fairy land,
        The youth and beauty here arrayed,
        So sweet and neat each dairymaid.

        And worthy of a poet's theme,
        Sweet and smooth flows milk and cream,
        For song or glee what is fitter
        In this land of cheese and butter,
        But no young man should be afraid
        To court a pretty dairymaid.

        And far abroad he should not roam
        But find a charmer here at home,
        Find some one now your heart to cheer,
        Thus celebrate the jubilee year,
        Remember long this ...

James McIntyre

Lines Read at a Parsonage Opening at the Village where Ranney had once flourished, 1883.

        Some do boast of their pedigrees,
        But Salford's parent of the cheese,
        Ranney, industrious and wise,
        Here started this great enterprise.

        He did work on the dairy plan,
        While Farrington was factoryman,
        Both of these men it well did please
        To hear of progress making cheese.

        The farmers are in cheerful mood,
        For harvest all it has been good,
        And all the grain was sown this spring
        An abundant yield will bring.

        And you can scarcely stow away
        The yield of barley, oats and hay,
        Such pasture it is seldom seen,
        E'en now it is so fresh and green.

        This beauteous colour nature decks,
        While it insures yo...

James McIntyre

Hints To Cheese Makers.

        All those who quality do prize
        Must study color, taste and size,
        And keep their dishes clean and sweet,
        And all things round their factories neat,
        For dairymen insist that these
        Are all important points in cheese.

        Grant has here a famous work
        Devoted to the cure of pork,
        For dairymen find it doth pay
        To fatten pigs upon the whey,
        For there is money raising grease
        As well as in the making cheese.

James McIntyre

Ode On The Mammoth Cheese.

Weight over seven thousand pounds.

        We have seen thee, queen of cheese,
        Lying quietly at your ease,
        Gently fanned by evening breeze,
        Thy fair form no flies dare seize.

        All gaily dressed soon you'll go
        To the great Provincial show,
        To be admired by many a beau
        In the city of Toronto.

        Cows numerous as a swarm of bees,
        Or as the leaves upon the trees,
        It did require to make thee please,
        And stand unrivalled, queen of cheese.

        May you not receive a scar as
        We have heard that Mr. Harris
        Intends to send you off as far as
        The great world's show at Paris.

        Of the youth beware of these,
        For ...

James McIntyre