The appellant, Associated Seed Growers, Inc., is engaged in producing and selling various kinds of seeds. The appellees purchased Logan Bean seed from appellant; the beans produced from such seed wеre defective, and, therefore, unsalable. Appellees filed this suit against the seed company, alleging the beans were unsalable because they were afflicted with a disease known as “common bean mosaic”; that the seed company had given express and implied warranties that the seeds were resistant to such a disease, which is seed borne. This suit is based on a breach of such alleged warranties. There was a verdict and judgment fоr appellees in the sum of $2,500.
The evidence was sufficient to take the case to the jury on the question of whether the beans were defective due to common bean mosaic. Appellant produced weighty evidence to the effect that the unsalable condition of the beans was not due to that disease, but there is substantial evidence to the contrary. It is not disputed that the beans were unsalable. Marshall Johnson, Harold Ballentine аnd Boyce Wofford qualified as experts, through many years of experience by producing and dealing in beans, testified that in their opinion the beans were unsalable because they were afflicted with common bean mosaic. Appellant questions the qualifications of the witnesses to testify as experts. True, they were not trained pathologists, but they had long years of experience with beans, and a witness may qualify as an expert by experienсe. The court said, in Nixon et al., Receivers v. Fulkerson,
The principal issue on appeаl is whether the seed company gave an express or implied warranty with regard to the fitness of the seed. Appellee, Johnson, acting for himself and the other appellees herein, bought the seed from appellant. Johnson had one of appellant’s catalogues; he testified that he studied the catalogue and referred to it in ordering seed. Furthermore, it was stipulated that Johnson used the catalogue in buying seed from appellant. The catalogue described the seed as being resistant to common bean mosaic.
Ark. Stats. § 68-1415 provides: “Implied ivarrcmty of quality or fitness. — Subject to the provisions of this act (§§ 68-1401 — 68-1480) and of any statute in that behalf, there is no implied warranty or condition as to the quality or fitness for any particular purpose of goods supplied under a contract to sell or a sale, except as follows:
“(1) Where the buyer, expressly or by implication, makes known to thе seller the particular purpose for which the goods are required, and it appears that the buyer relies on the seller’s skill or judgment (whether he be the grower or manufacturer or not), there is an implied warranty that the goods shall be reasonably fit for such purpose.
“(2) Where the goods are bought by description from a seller who deals in goods of that description (whether he be the grower or manufacturer or not), there is an implied warranty that the goods shall be of merchantable quality.”
Ark. Stats. § 68-1412 provides: “Express warranty defined. — Any affirmation of fact or any promise by the seller relating to the goods is an express warranty if the natural tendency of such affirmation or promise is to induce the buyer to purchase the goods, and if the buyer purchases the goods relying thereon . . .”
Appellant does not insist that the statement in the catalogue to the effect that the beans were resistant to commоn bean mosaic, coupled with the statutes set out above, would not be sufficient to constitute an express or implied warranty if that were the entire picture. But, appellant says that in making the sale of the beans, it limited the warranty or disclaimed the warranty. This brings us to a consideration of the facts surrounding the actual sale. The transaction came about in this manner: Johnson called Henry Hicks, the manager of appellant’s Memphis branch, and ordered the Logan Bean seed. Hicks told him that they did not have the seed at Memphis, but thought he might supply them out of their branch at Omaha, Nebraska. After talking to Johnson, Hicks ascertained that the seed were available at Omaha аnd wired Johnson that they would be shipped. The telegram stated: “SHIPPING TODAY FROM OMAHA VIA TRUCK TWENTY BAGS LOGAN. THANKS.” On the same day that the telegram was sent, Hicks wrote to Johnson as follows: “Following our long distance telephone conversation this morning we found that Logan beans wеre available at our Omaha warehouse and wired you that we were instructing immediate shipment via truck freight. Accordingly we have entered your order as follows: 2,400 lbs. Beans, Logan, f. o. b., Omaha, Nebraska, .29 1/2 per lb., volume discount 10% . . .’’In the uрper right hand corner of the letterhead, in small type, was printed the following: “We warrant that the seeds, bulbs and plants we sell are, at the time of delivery, as described on the container within recognized tolerances: But we limit оur liability on this warranty to the amount of the purchase price of such seeds, bulbs, and plants, and we give no other' or future warranty express or implied. Associated Seed Growers, Inc.” The tags on the sacks of beans containing thе name and address of the purchaser also had printed thereon the identical disclaimer, as above set out. This disclaimer also appeared on the invoice.
The problem is: Was it a question for the jury to decide as to whether the disclaimer was effective in the existing circumstances. In the first place, it conld be said that the contract of purchase was completed when the seed company accepted the оrder from Johnson by wiring him to the effect that the beans were being shipped. Evidently both parties considered there had been an offer and acceptance. It is not reasonable to be-' lieve that Hicks would have takеn the liberty of shipping the beans unless he had an order from appellees. Even if it could be said that the contract was not consummated until something further was done by the purchaser, the fact that he did not attempt to cancel the order upon receipt of the telegram left nothing else to be done by either party to complete the contract. Judge Hart said, in Rock v. Deason & Keith,
Appellant contends that since the order given by Johnson was not in writing he could not be held to it, and argues that therefore there was no contract, and cites the statute of frauds. But the purchaser would be the one in this instance that could take advantage of the statute, and not the seller, who.accepted the order by telegram, and by shipping the seed. Judge Holmes said, in Edgar v. Joseph Breck & Sons Corp.,
The courts are not in accord as to the effect to be given to disclaimers such as the one involved here, and appellant has cited several cases sustaining its theory. But we think the better view is as expressed by Judge Holmes in Edgar v. Joseph Breck & Sons Corp., supra, which is supported by such cases as Grаy v. Gurney Seed & Nursery Company, 62 S. D. 97,
Over appellant’s objection, appellees introduced evidence to the effect that other beans оf the same kind but of a different variety were planted at the same time, under the same conditions, on land adjacent to that on which the Logan beans were planted; that all of the beans were fertilized and cultivated in a like manner, and that all of the beans developed properly except the Logan beans from the seed obtained from appellant. Appellant contends this evidence was not admissible and cites J. S. Elder Grocery Company v. Applegate,
Appellant makes the further contention that there was no privity of сontract between it and appellees herein, however, the record shows that the beans were purchased by Johnson for all of the appellees. Hence, there was a privity of contract. Kefauver v. Price,
Affirmed.