Barn

Several theories exist as to why red became such a dominant color for barns in the United States.

Some barn authorities claim it was because wealthy farmers added either blood from slaughtered animals or ferrous oxide (rust) to a concoction of milk and linseed oil to their paint.

This deterred fungus and moss from growing on their barns and damaging the wood. Others suggest it was simply to complement the green of the fields. ~~~ ~~

According to the passage, the color of barns in the United States is sometimes related to economic realities. It is not purely an aesthetic concern or related to the placement of the barn within the farm.