Long v. Pruyn

128 Mich. 57 | Mich. | 1901

Hooker, J.

The plaintiff, a far’mer, bought peach and apple trees from the defendant, and set them upon his farm. This action is brought to recover damages arising from the delivery of trees of different variety and inferior quality to those contracted for. From a verdict of $9?5 in favor of the plaintiff, the defendant has appealed.

Among the trees contracted for were 25 Fox Seedlings and 50 Canada Reds. The testimony showed that the former were represented to “bear a large white, bright peach, good sellers,” but that, although Fox Seedlings were delivered, they did not bear such, but bore an inferior and worthless peach. As to the Canada Reds, it showed that trees labeled “Smith Cider” were substituted under a ’clause in the contract permitting other trees of equally good variety to be substituted where trees ordered could not be furnished, and that the fruit borne by these was inferior and worthless. It is claimed by appellant’s counsel that the declaration does not contain allegations justifying this proof; but we find in the declaration the allegations that it was represented that the Fox Seedlings would “bear a large white, bright peach, good sellers,’’ and that “in place of the 25 Fox Seedling trees, standard, defendant delivered Fox Seedling trees of a poor variety,” and “that all of said trees were inferior and worthless varieties, and absolutely of no Value,” etc. It was proper to prove these allegations, and the evidence fairly tended to do so. The proof of a substitution of an inferior quality for Canada Reds, and their acceptance under misrepresentation, showed a breach of the promise to furnish “ Canada Reds or an equally good variety.”

There is no occasion to discuss the proof tending to show care in the setting and attending said trees. There is sufficient proof upon the subject to make it a question for the jury. We cannot take judicial notice that sowing oats or planting corn in the same field was not good care, nor can we decide how far, if at all, proper care would make poor varieties bear good fruit.

Counsel make a wholesale assignment of error in the “ admission of the testimony of each and every witness as to the value of the land, inasmuch as they did not show that they were qualified to express an opinion of the value of lands.” We think the testimony was admissible, under the authorities cited in plaintiff’s brief, although witnesses testified that they knew of no sale of fruit lands. Stone v. Covell, 29 Mich. 359; Carter v. Carter, 36 Mich. 207; Enright v. Hartsig, 46 Mich. 469 (9 N. W. 496); City of Detroit v. Robinson, 93 Mich. 428 (53 N. W. 564); Heilman v. Pruyn, 122 Mich. 301 (81 N. W. 97, 80 Am. St. Rep. 570); Angell v. Pruyn, 126 Mich. 16 (85 N. W. 258).

In the case of Heilman v. Pruyn, supra, the court instructed the jury that “the measure of damages was the value that would have been added to the premises if the trees had been of the varieties ordered.” This was sustained as a correct rule by this court, and it is the rule laid down by the learned circuit judge in the case now before us.

It is said that there was no evidence to enable the jury to find the value of the land. There was testimony of some witnesses as to their opinion of the value of the land, and how much it would be enhanced by the addition of such trees. Some estimated by the tree; others, by the acre. There was also testimony as to what such trees would ordinarily produce. All could be made use of by the jury to perform their function of determining the added value. It is said that the witnesses were asked to state the value of the trees; but the record shows that they were asked and gave the added value at so much per tree, and we do not find the testimony complained of.

Testimony was offered to show that, after these trees came into bearing, a hard winter killed many of them, and it is claimed that the same fate would have befallen them had they been good varieties, and that the fact was important by way of mitigation of damages. No exception appears to have been taken to the ruling.¹ The same question arises upon the charge. The charge was as favorable to the appellant as it should have been under the testimony. See Heilman v. Pruyn, supra; Angell v. Pruyn, supra.

Some minor points are raised relating to the cross-examination of the defendant, which we think do not call for elaboration.

We find no error, and the judgment is affirmed.

The other Justices concurred.

1 The error assigned was on a remark of the court; the testimony was admitted.