The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1886-10-16
PAINTING IMPLEMENTS.
A Farmer Who Seriously Objects to thu
General Use of Rod.

A Farmer Who Seriously Objects to tho
General Use of Rod.
The almost universal use of red on
farm machinery is fact which may
well excite curiosity among all who like
to see progressive ideas applied to the
appearance, as we'll rs to the mechan-
cal construction, of such machinery. If
1t is because farmers like strong, glar-
ing color, which will dazzle the eyes of
every person in the country they live
in, red is the proper color. If it is be-
cause they like some color that will fade
or turn dark, or perish and part from
the wood, so that they can sec what
material has been used, red is good. If
it IS because bold. strong, obtrus;ve
effect is preferable to modest, subdued
and permanent colors, rcd is wisely
chosen.
The writer does not suppose any
great amount OF thought has been be-
slowed upon this subject but that red
has found favor because of its bright
ness and its more or less pleasing con-
trast with the green of the fields in which
implements are used; and that the custom
of SO painting machinery having be-
come established, no change has been
seriously sought by either farmers or
manufacturers. Tho question of chang
ing this long-used color has of late beun
somewhat discussed among some of the
leading manufacturers, on account of
some objc ctions which have been made
to red, and also on account OF the adj
vantages which will be found in the use
of other colors.
Red is one of the most unsatisfactory
colors to make in the whole color scale.
Some of the pigments used in its manu-
facture are so affected by the oils and
dryers used in mixing them as to limit
their durability; others, while not sus-
tanning any appreciable chemical
change in mixing, are either beached
out or turned black in color by the
chief natural agents-air, moisture,
light, ETC., that are constantly at work
everywhere. The pigments in the reds
chiefly used on farm implements are
necessarily among the least expensive
and the least enduring of the great
variety produced, being chemical COM
pounds instead of earth colors, and,
therefore, most susceptible to change.
Another objection to red is its glar-
ing effect on the eyes, repulsivc 10 good
taste for beautiful objects, and contrary
TO natures employment OF the color.
Nature, it will be observed, uses red
sparingly, and with rs great reserve as
she is profuse in lavishing green upon
her works. In broad cXpansc of
green, there may be but here and there
u flower of rcd, the contrasting or har-
monizing equivalent of green; and this
is so arranged that it does not glare and
dazzle the eyes, as if its rarity made it
exceptionally valuable. 1t is only when
the frosts and winds of autumn have
smltten natures garment of green that
she dons her robes of gorgeous color;
and when she appears in this vesture, it
is premonition of change and decay.
As the highest degree OF mechanical Of
iiclency is always sought in the pur.
chase of machinery, so tho Judgment of
the farmer should be exercised in the
selection of colors of paint used upon
it, to get those which will look and last
well.-Cor Ohio Farmer.