Poetry · Chapter
Peculiarities of Oxford County explained
This chapter celebrates the distinctive landscape of Oxford County, particularly its numerous windmills, which are presented as both picturesque and practical for pumping water.
What happens
This chapter celebrates the distinctive landscape of Oxford County, particularly its numerous windmills, which are presented as both picturesque and practical for pumping water. The author links the abundance of windmills to the region's dairy farming success, noting that the pure water and rich grass enable cows to produce excellent cream for the world-renowned Oxford cheese. The chapter also touches on the practice of 'soiling'—feeding cut green grass to cows—as a labor-intensive but rewarding method.
Themes in this chapter
Agriculture and Rural Economy
The chapter highlights the role of windmills in supporting dairy farming and cheese production, emphasizing the economic importance of agriculture in Oxford County.
Nature and the Environment
The description of windmills in picturesque settings and the emphasis on pure water and rich grass underscore the connection between the natural environment and rural life.
Key passages
“It would be amusing to many, if Don Quixote flourished at the present time and rode through this county bestride his fiery charger, couching his lance and clapping spurs to his steed and tilting his spear at the giants of his imagination, the windmills, for there is not a county in Canada that contains as many of those useful water pumpers.”
It would be funny if Don Quixote were alive today and rode through Oxford County attacking windmills, because this county has more windmills than any other in Canada.
The author uses a literary allusion to Don Quixote to humorously emphasize the abundance of windmills in Oxford County.
“No wonder they can make with ease In Oxford world renowned cheese, For cows enjoy the clear pure stream With rich, sweet grass makes best of cream.”
It's no surprise that Oxford County produces world-famous cheese, because the cows drink clean water and eat rich grass, which makes the best cream.
This couplet explains the direct link between the quality of local resources and the region's celebrated cheese production.