Court Opinion

ID: 8187796
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-09-09 23:10:32.404918+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T16:40:29.221044
License: Public Domain

Cassoday, C. J.
1. The appeal to the circuit court' gave to the respective parties the right to a trial de novo in that court. That Court was at liberty to require the plaintiff to give security for costs in case it was made to “appear reasonable and proper” for it to do so. Sec. 2942, Stats. 1898; Dorothy v. Richmond, 107 Wis. 652, 83 N. W. 768. But such appli-, cation was addressed to the sound discretion of that court, ;and this court is not at liberty to interfere with such ruling, *45except where there has been an abuse of such discretion. Cullen v. Hanisch, 114 Wis. 24, 29, 89 N. W. 900. We find no such abuse in the case at bar.
2. It is urged that the findings of the referee are not reviewable for want of exceptions, as prescribed by statute (secs. 2810, 2871, 2873, Stats. 1898). Small v. Prentice, 102 Wis. 256, 78 N. W. 415; Momsen v. Atkins, 105 Wis. 557, 563, 81 N. W. 647. Here no exceptions were filed until several months after the entry of judgment.
3. But the principal question involved is presented by the refusal of the referee and court to strike out all parol testimony as to the purchase and sale of the real estate, and the conditions thereof and the crops and vegetables growing thereon. The contention is that the deed from the plaintiff and wife to the defendant’s son is conclusive against the plaintiff’s right to any portion of the crops and vegetables' growing upon the land at the time the deed was given. It is undisputed that the plaintiff had leased the house and the half acre of land upon which the crops and vegetables were grown to one Skala some two and one half months prior to the execution of the deed. That lease was by parol, and only for the term of six months. The statute expressly authorizes-the making of a parol “lease for a term not exceeding one year.” Sec. 2302, Stats. 1898. Skala paid the rent in advance, and immediately entered into the possession of the ] louse and the half acre of land. There can be no question but that that lease was binding not only on Skala, but also' upon the plaintiff. Had Skala remained in possession and continued to cultivate the land, there can be no doubt but that he could have held the crops as against the plaintiff or his grantee. Secs. 2194, 2195, Stats. 1898.
“The general rule of the common law is that growing crops-form a part of the real estate to which they are attached, and from which they draw nourishment; and, unless there has been a constructive severance of them from the land, they *46follow the title thereto. Thus, in the case of a voluntary conveyance of land they pass to the grantee, unless specially reserved by the grantor; or, in the case of a lease of the land the crops pass to the lessee unless expressly reserved.” 8 Am. & Eng. Eney. of Law (2d ed.) 303, 304.
The reason for the rule is obvious. Ordinarily, the deed •or lease of the land puts the grantee or lessee in possession, and any attempt on the part of the grantor or lessor to reenter and harvest the crops without permission would be a trespass. Skala’s possession was of itself constructive notice to the grantee in the deed of his right to the crop as tenant. Wickes v. Lake, 25 Wis. 71; Cunningham v. Brown, 44 Wis. 72; Coe v. Manseau, 62 Wis. 81, 88, 22 N. W. 155; First Nat. Bank v. Chafee, 98 Wis. 42, 47, 73 N. W. 318. Besides, there is evidence tending to prove that he had actual notice of Skala’s lease. Such evidence appears to be admissible. Pringle v. Dunn, 37 Wis. 449; Brinkman v. Jones, 44 Wis. 498; Helms v. Chadbourne, 45 Wis. 60; Rowell v. Williams, 54 Wis. 636, 12 N. W. 86. This court has recently held:
“Where- the relation of landlord and tenant exists, even though the rent is to be paid in kind, the title to the crops is in the tenant until division is made, unless the contract specifically provides to the contrary.” Rowlands v. Voechting, 115 Wis. 352, 91 N. W. 990.
It is unlike the case of a mere cropper, where the title to the crop remains in the owner of-the land. Kelly v. Rummerfield, 117 Wis. 620, 94 N. W. 649. Neither is the question involved as to whether-the defendant’s son, as grantee in the deed, had any right to collect rent of Skala; since, as indicated, Skala paid the full amount of the rent in advance. See secs. 2194, 2195, Stats. 1898. Thus it appears that Skala had the absolute right to the crop, not only as against the plaintiff, but also as against the defendant’s son, as such grantee, for several days after the execution and delivery of *47.tbe deed. As such owner, Skala bad the right to sell and transfer the crops to whomsoever he pleased.
4. The only remaining question is whether the plaintiff, by reason of having given the warranty deed to the defendant’s son, was estopped from taking an assignment or transfer of the crop and holding it as against the son as such grantee in the deed. The argument is that the outstanding lease in Skala was a breach of the covenants in the deed, and that when the plaintiff acquired title to the crop it inured to the benefit of his grantee, and that he cannot be allowed to set up title to the crops to defeat his own absolute grant. The . fallacy in the argument consists in the assumption that the crop in question, as between the plaintiff and his grantee, was a part of the real estate. The general rule is that all crops which require to be planted or sown annually are •“fructus industriales ,” and “may be sold by parol as personal property,” and “pass to the personal representative to be administered as personal property.” 8 Am. & Eng. Ency. of Law (2d ed.) 302. Such crops are subject to seizure and sale on execution or attachment. Id. 308; Whipple v. Foot, 2 Johns. 418, 3 Am. Dec. 442; Smith v. Tritt, 18 N. C. (1 Dev. & B.) 241, 28 Am. Dec. 565; Heard v. Fairbanks, 5 Met. 111, 31 Am. Dec. 394; Backenstoss v. Stahler's Adm’rs, 33 Pa. St. 251, 75 Am. Dec. 592; Flynt v. Conrad, 93 Am. Dec. 588; Willis v. Moore, 59 Tex. 628, 46 Am. Rep. 284; Polley v. Johnson, 52 Kan. 478, 35 Pac. 8, 23 L. R. A. 253; Mabry v. Harp, 53 Kan. 398, 36 Pac. 743; Erickson v. Peterson, 47 Minn. 525, 50 N. W. 699. Several of these cases, and many others which might be cited, support the proposition that parol evidence is admissible to show that at the time of conveying the land such crops were reserved or severed. There are adjudications the other way.’ The general rule is stated by Mr. Ereeman thus:
“Crops, whether growing or standing in the field ready to be harvested are, when produced by annual cultivation, no *48part of tbe realty. They are, therefore, liable to voluntary transfer as chattels. It is equally well settled that they may be seized and sold under execution.”
Such propositions are supported by the citation of numerous adjudications. 1 Freeman, Executions (3d ed.) § 113, and 3 Freeman, Executions, § 3496. In this last section it is said, among other things, that “the mere sale of a growing-crop operates to sever it from the realty, so that it will no-longer be included in a voluntary or involuntary transfer of such realty.” This court has often recognized the right to-give a valid chattel mortgage upon such growing crops. Comstock v. Scales, 7 Wis. 159; Lanyon v. Woodward, 55 Wis. 652, 657, 13 N. W. 863; Lamson v. Moffat, 61 Wis. 153, 21 N. W. 62.; Merchants’ & M. S. Bank v. Lovejoy, 84 Wis. 601, 609, 55 N. W. 108. On the other hand, “those crops which grow from perennial roots, and which do not require the annual labor of the owner to bring them into existence, are called fructus naturales ” and pass to the heir at law or devisee as a part of the real estate. Id.; Rogers v. Elliott, 59 N. H. 201, 47 Am. Rep. 192; Kirkeby v. Erickson (Minn.) 96 N. W. 705; Sparrow v. Pond, 49 Minn 412, 52 N. W. 36. It is unnecessary to continue the discussion.. We must hold that the crop in question was personal property, and that the plaintiff was not estopped by his deed from acquiring the title and possession to the same and holding-the same as against his grantee, and the defendant acting-under him.
By the Court. — The judgment of the circuit court is af1 firmed.