Sd7f to !Pami Countty Souses. 173 



How to Paint Country Houses. 



rpHK following practical suggestions were embodied in an excellent article read 

 J- recently before the Farmers' Club of this city, by H. E. Colton. 



Paint on the farm is no longer a luxury ; it is a matter of economy, and custom or 

 fashion has made it a necessity. Its use on farm-houses and farm utensils is a 

 matter of self-preservation. If the farmer would add to his store of funds by taking 

 a few summer boarders, he must make his house attractive, pleasant, and neat. He 

 cannot do this without paint. Hence, how and with what shall the farmer paint his 

 house? If his house is in a grove of green trees, a light buff is best; if exposed, a 

 drab, or French gray. This for the body of the house, with window-blinds green, 

 cornices and copings brown, light or dark, as may suit the taste. We state these 

 shades on general principles, and the farmer who uses them will seldom fail to have 

 a house that will be admired. 



To get these shades. White is the base upon which all tints are founded. There 

 are three kinds of white paints ; white lead, oxide of zinc, and zinc lead. White 

 lead is the most costly, and, although very generally used, and until the introduction 

 of zinc-lead, considered the best, is really a very poor stuff, as well as very dangerous 

 as a poison. It chalks from action of the atmosphere, and very rapidly turns yellow. 

 Oxide of zinc is very seldom used for out-door work, as it is unfit for such use, 

 because it cracks and peels off. Zinc-lead is an original pigment containing zinc and 

 lead oxides. It does not chalk or turn yellow like white lead, nor crack and peel off 

 like common zinc. It has as much body and more covering power than the best 

 white lead. At the same time it is one-third cheaper in price. It is not poisonous 

 to use, and when mixed in oil it does not settle, which fact is a great convenience to 

 farmers. Hence, for these reasons we recommend it in preference to any other 

 paint. All other paints now can be bought ground in oil. 



To make a buff, take 100 povinds of zinc lead and three gallons boiled oil, and two 

 gallons spirits turpentine. Mix thoroughly, then add yellow-stone ochre ground in 

 oil until the desired shade is reached. Try a little occasionally on a board, as a 

 paint looks differently in a body from when applied. If a canary yellow is required, 

 use chrome yellow. The same color will give a canary tint to the buff. A very 

 much admired tint is made by using a little black with the ochre. 



For a drab, use a little lamp or drop black instead of yellow ochre. Pretty tints 

 may be made by using umber or metallic brown paints. 



It takes less color to tint zinc lead than white lead, and it holds the tint better. 

 The best ochre comes from France ; it gives a tint that does not fade, but shades 

 from chrome yellow will fade. Tints made from metallic paints, as Prince's, etc., 

 do not fade. Umber makes a pretty tint, but is apt to fade in the sun. For cop- 

 ings, use one of the brown metallic paints. 



For window-blinds, Paris-green was formerly used, but so many accidents have 

 happened from it that but few now use it. Green may be shaded lighter by using a 

 little zinc lead in it. It contrasts well with almost all colors, whether pure white 

 or a tint. 



The interior of houses may be painted a pure white or tinted. In painting inside, 

 to make a flat zinc color, use all spirits of turpentine. In fact many use more of it 



