In a message dated 6/12/2001 11:17:17 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
[log in to unmask] writes:

<<  to compensate for the low level of street lighting and its total
 absence on rural roads, and the low-powered headlights of the time (21
 candlepower, though I can attest they are adequate on a really dark, unlit
 road), it was customary to paint everything at the roadside white up to
 about 4 feet off the ground--not only fences but buildings, tree trunks,
 masonite cows, etc. >>

Don,

During my youthful sojourn in Phoenix, I was perplexed by the local habit of
applying white paint to the bottom 4' of tree trunks.  But I don't think it
was to make them more visible from dimly-lit rural roads in Maryland.  I'll
check the masonite cows in my basement, which may in fact have white
primer---or was it the original finish coat?

Ralph (Temporary [?] Snot Czar)