  As cheese making first began in this county and it has already become the chief industry of many counties, it is no insignificant theme. About the middle of this century Canada was a great importer of cheese, and now cheese is the principal article of export from the Province of Ontario, and this Province will soon export no less than ten millions of dollars worth of cheese per annum. Mr. Ranney was doing a thriving business in the dairy line, manufacturing cheese after the century was half gone on the dairy plan from the products of his own cows, and one decade later Mr. Farrington introduced the factory system. Both of these gentlemen have departed this life but Canada is enjoying the fruits of their labors, and about eight hundred cheese factories are in operation in this Province of Ontario. RANNEY, 1856, DAIRY SYSTEM.Ranney began with just two cows, Which he in winter fed on browse, And now he hath got mighty herds Numerous as flock of birds, May he long live our hearts to cheer This great and useful pioneer. FARRINGTON, 1866, FACTORY SYSTEM.The farmers they now all make rich Since Farrington went to Norwich, And the system first there began Of making cheese on factory plan; He came from Herkimer county, To Canada he was a bounty; Norwich village moved but slow, Till railways made it quickly grow, And industries here now take root, The township's famous for its fruit. Among the earliest champions of the Factory System of making cheese were Messrs. Chadwick, Casswell and Ballantyne. The North Oxford Company were awarded the highest honor at the Centennial Exhibition. Messrs. J. L. Grant & Co. have a fine large cold storage warehouse on the G.T.R., and the C.P.R. have erected one on their line, which is leased by Mr. Riley. Ingersoll being the great dairy centre of Ontario it was deemed requisite to have those facilities for preserving the cheese in the hot season. The following is a list of the most prominent cheese factories in this district and the salesmen thereof:
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, How dear it is, they mutter. Then long life to Father Ranney, May he his health retain aye. The farmers can not be beat, They have both cheese and their wheat, Though now their greatest care is For to watch o'er their dairies, They carefully fill their mows With provender for their cows, And they thus enrich the soil With much profit for their toil. We will sing this refrain aye, Long life to Father Ranney. The motto "union is strength" Is carried out at length, In the most compact array At every cheese factory, You'll see without going far as There is one kept by Harris, The factory of Ingersoll, Just out at the first toll. May he never suffer pain aye, The Father of cheesemen Ranney. Or you may go all the way To see one kept by Galloway, And out in the Norwiches Dairymen are making riches, And honor has been won By Harvey Farrington, The same path is trodden By folks about Culloden. May his strength never wane aye, The great dairyman Ranney. And of late we saw some Very good cheese from Lawson, All around Mt. Elgin Dairymen have well done, And out in East Nissouri They make some scores a day, From Jarvis and Elliott Some good cheese are bought. And we will all remain aye, Indebted to Father Ranney. Now we close this glorious theme, This song of curds and rich cream, You can buy your hoops and screws, And all supplies for dairy use, Milk cans and vats, all things like these, In Ingersoll great mart for cheese, Here buyers all do congregate And pay for cheese the highest rate. So we call on you again aye, To honor Father Ranney. 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 some of them might rudely squeeze And bite your cheek, then songs or glees We could not sing, oh! queen of cheese. We'rt thou suspended from balloon, You'd cast a shade even at noon, Folks would think it was the moon About to fall and crush them soon. LINES READ AT A DAIRYMEN'S SUPPER.It almost now seems all in vain For to expect high price for grain, Wheat is grown on Egyptian soil On the banks of mighty Nile. And where the Ganges it doth flow, In India fine wheat doth grow, And price of labor is so cheap That it they can successful reap. Then let the farmers justly prize The cows for land they fertilize, And let us all with songs and glees Invoke success into the cheese. 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. ENSILAGE.The farmers now should all adorn A few fields with sweet southern corn, It is luscious, thick and tall, The beauty of the fields in fall. For it doth make best ensilage, For those in dairying engage, It makes the milk in streams to flow, Where dairymen have a good silo. The cow is a happy rover O'er the fields of blooming clover, Of it she is a fond lover, And it makes milk pails run over. FERTILE LANDS AND MAMMOTH CHEESE.In barren district you may meet Small fertile spot doth grow fine wheat, There you may find the choicest fruits, And great, round, smooth and solid roots. But in conditions such as these You cannot make a mammoth cheese, Which will weigh eight thousand pounds, But where large fertile farms abounds. Big cheese is synonymous name, With fertile district of the Thame, Here dairy system's understood, And they are made both large and good. 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 ladies' aid And each bewitching dairymaid. 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 you large milk cheques, And certes you've much cause to praise, For hogs and cattle that you raise. OXFORD CHEESE ODE.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. CHEESE CURD FOR BAIT.The following adventure was participated in by Mr. J. Podmore and Mr. W. D. Grant at Matheson's Cold Spring Cheese Factory in Zorra, 1888. Cheese buyers in hours of leisure Combine business with pleasure, And when they wish to go abroad They take their gun and fishing rod. This tale is true we pledge our word, They baited hook with a piece of curd, And let the rod hang from the boat, While curd and hook on pond did float. And then they start for sport and fun, To try their luck with the shot gun, And quick they raised from their cover, Then brought low eight brace of plover. Now to the pond they do return, But loss of rod they have to mourn, They see it rushing through the water, And wonder what can be the matter. But the courage of young Grant, It did not for a moment daunt, Though rod it now is far beyond, He plunged into deep, cold spring pond. And seized his rod and then drew out A beauteous seven pound trout, Which had grown from the seed From spawn of California breed. And Californian in its greed, On the sweet curd wished to feed; But, alas, for it's sad fate, It swallowed hook along with bait. |
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