TWELFTH ANNUAL YEAR BOOK— PART X 503 



THE USE OF PAINT ON THE FARM. 

 U. S. Department of Agriculture, Farmers' Bulletin No. 474. 



IXTRODTJCTIOX. 



There is probably no one point more neglected by the average farmer 

 than the judicious use of paint, not only on his house and outbuildings, 

 but also on machinery and various agricultural implements. It is per- 

 haps the rule rather than the exception in some sections to see houses and 

 agricultural implements on the farm sadly in need of paint. The idea 

 seems to be prevalent that paint is used solely for ornamental purposes, 

 and its use is regarded as a luxury rather than a necessity. While paint 

 does, of course, serve the purpose of improving the appearance of property, 

 it is far more useful for protection than for ornament. A small amount of 

 money and work expended in keeping a valuable piece of machinery prop- 

 erly painted will add gre-atly to the length of its life. The same may be 

 said of buildings. Another useful object which is accomplished by paint- 

 ing is the improved sanitary conditions of buildines and outhouses. It is 

 not proposed in this bulletin to give instructions for artistic painting, or 

 even for doing the class of work which would be expected of a first-class 

 master painter, for such work can not be expected of one engaged in another 

 business. But any man can do an average job of painting, and can thereby 

 not only improve the appearance of his place, but can add greatly to the 

 durability of all articles painted. The cost of such work is small, the 

 necessary equipment is not expensive, and with proper care will last a 

 long time. An attempt will be made to give directions for the care of 

 paint and of the necessary tools used in its application and for the proper 

 selFction of different paints for various purposes, their preparation and 

 application and their approximate cost. 



Certain terms will be used frequently with a somewhat restricted mean- 

 ing, and they are therefore defined as follows: 



A paint is a mixture of a pigment with a vehicle and is intended to be 

 spread in thin coats for protection or decoration or both. 



A pigment is the fine, solid material used in the preparation of paint 

 and is substantially insoluble in the vehicle. 



The vehicle is the liquid portion of the paint. 



Bearing in mind these definitions, it is seen that while varnish is used 

 very much in the same manner as paint, it could not be properly classified 

 as a paint, because it does not contain any solid particles of pigment. On 

 the other hand, whitewash, which is not ordinarily called a paint (largely 

 because of its cheapness), v/ould comply with this definition very well. 



BSUSHES AND OTHER IMPLEMEXTS. 



The only absolutely necessary implements are brushes. Probably the 

 most generally useful brush is a round one with bristles about 6 inches 

 long. Oval brushes from 2 to 21^ inches wide are also very good for gen- 

 eral use, and a great deal of painting is done with 4 or 5 inch flat brushes. 



