The article is a valid explanation for why red is such a popular color, so I wouldn't say its a bad article at all. It does explain why a modern farmer might paint a metal barn red, it just fails to explain the tradition.
I do sort of think the google guy is a little isolated from the reality of pre-industrial farm life though. If you had a farm in the 1700's, would there really be enough people around to justify making your storage building look pretty? I think (for the most part) everything that was done in the pre-industrial world had a utilitarian motive. My money is on the anti-moss thoery.
The article is a valid explanation for why red is such a popular color, so I wouldn't say its a bad article at all. It does explain why a modern farmer might paint a metal barn red, it just fails to explain the tradition.
I do sort of think the google guy is a little isolated from the reality of pre-industrial farm life though. If you had a farm in the 1700's, would there really be enough people around to justify making your storage building look pretty? I think (for the most part) everything that was done in the pre-industrial world had a utilitarian motive. My money is on the anti-moss thoery.
Its an interesting theory, but uncolored paint is cheaper than red paint. If it was a cost-driven choice, plain old oil would be the optimal choice. I've heard various theories. The most likely (imo) is either a way to imitate the look of brick, or rust being added to oil as an anti-moss treatment.