The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1886-12-04
FARM PAINTING.
Five Questions and Answers of Practical
and Every-D Day Value.

!. How shall farmer paint buggy?
how wagon?
i do not think, as rule, that it will
be wise for farmers to paint their car
riages themselves. Such work re-
quires special materials and more skill
in the manipulation of tools than the
farmer possesses or could proitably de-
velop, and it occurs so infrequently
that the farmer can easily afford to pay
the carriage maker few dollars for
this purpose. Moreover, spirit of
helpfulness and consideration for other
industries which the farmer. in COM
mon with other men. should always en-
terrain, will incline him to do this.
Wagons are in more common use,
and should be kept well painted. The
paints used are made of white lead,
linseed oil, japan and turpentine, with
the addition of such coloring pigments
as may be selected. Indian red makes
good durable color for running gear.
Bright reds are sometimes used, though
do not much admire them. Straw or
buff color is good. Tt may be made of
lead and ochre. For coloring lead, l
think the oil colors of standard makes
will be found more satisfactory than
dry color. as the latter has to be
ground thoroughly before it can be
applied with brush. Brown is
good color for boxes. Green has
been used to great extent, and is not
a bad color. Blue sometimes looks
well. Yellow and English vermillion,
or blue and green will make good
colors for stripping boxes, if the farmer
is disposed to add tn S finish. The in
side of the boxes should be painted with
Venetian red and linseed oil, one or
two coats. A coat of good coach var
nish is desirable for the better grades
of work. 1t can, perhaps, be omitted
on old wagons, if necessary to save eX-
pense.
Good linseed oil paints are the best
for this work, with enough turpentine
or japan mixed in to make it dry read
lily. For printing coats no dryer should
be used, and very little in either of the
finishing coats. There is a tendency
to the use of bright colors on buildings.
which l do not think wise for farm
buildings especially, and l am inclined
to think their popularity will be of
short duration. Drabs and stone
colors are the best and most enduring,
in my opinion, and always look well
on farm houses, with their surround
ings of meadows and trees. like to
see the trimming color lighter than the
body, though custom has long sane
toned the reverse of this. The trim
mings usually project beyond the
siding, and stand out more prominently
in the light. To give them u higher
color is therefore more in conformity
with nature.
2. How paint house and barn?
Paint for rough barns may be of
much cheaper variety than that used
for dwellings. What are known as iron
ore paints are cheap and very durable.
An article called 'creosote paint and
"creosote stain" is good, and also
cheap. | have known of ochreous
carths which are to be found in some
localities being mixed with skimnS
milk and applied to barns, and it wouh
last for years. Milk is one OF the best
of the very cheap vehicles for mixing
paint
3. How is paint mixed?
The mixing of paint is a simple pro-
cess. but it REQUIRES great care and skill
to get the proportions of materials
right and thoroughly Incorporated.
For the painting of buildings oil paint
with base of white lead is the best, with
the addition of a little turpentine and
the oil color for tintinc to the desired
shade. There are few brands of
paint prepared for the brush which the
farmer can use more economically.
PERHAPS. than he can mix them himself.
For fine paintino on waoors. etc. he
NAV REQUIRE ia6an colors. which are
also to be had ready to use. after thin
nino with little turpentine.
4. Should paint be applied thick or
thin and at what intervals should the
Pa;nt i host an,,I;od +hin for ord;-
MAN. naint;nn w;tb rraa+ar n,nnhar
Of c , re- ;f necoSsarv - the onmnon
1ron" ms 70 no"l and 40 biistor ;s lass
iii.,Ir 30 nan M foot ;tsoif IN na;n+ On an
Nal No na;nt should ha anoI;o C ." r
= Sa,rn s,rfano Cor ~ rvdtor con
ta;nad + tha Uood vii i, +;,,,n asoona
and IN 90 do;no will hlister tbe na;nt
wh;cb h imnrisnns Il When ono coat