202 The Farmer's Business Handbook 



policy, because it is manifestly injurious to the 

 public at large. Probably the most common form 

 of illegal contract is the wagering, or betting, 

 contract. This is not now enforcible, though it 

 was at one time. Indeed, it is now very fre- 

 quently the rule that the loser is liable to pay to 

 the overseer of the poor, or some similar person, 

 three times the amount of the wager for the 

 benefit of the poor. 



As a general rule, it is best to reduce every con- 

 tract or agreement to writing. As has been said, 

 great formality, especially in small transactions, 

 is not necessary. It may be written upon a 

 scrap of paper, or better yet, upon the leaf of 

 an ordinary memorandum book, being sure to 

 obtain the signature of the contracting parties, 

 with the signature of a witness whenever possi- 

 ble, and an expression of just what each party 

 is to do. 



In making a contract, one has to be very care- 

 ful of the language employed, and must be very 

 particular to know exactly what is meant by 

 the various terms used. Of course, our "common 

 law," as we call it, is simply a matter of usages 

 and customs which have become so general as 

 to be considered the law of the land. We find 

 that in many instances certain words, terms and 

 expressions have been given a particular meaning 

 by custom, and it is a rule of law that any 



