196 The Farmer's Business Handbook 



have accepted such new matter or conditions. 

 This has always been a fruitful field for litigation, 

 and in accepting an offer by letter, or in 

 any other way, great care should be taken not 

 to add any new matter in the acceptance of 

 any proposition. If new matter is, of neces- 

 sity, added, it should always be remembered 

 that the contract is not valid until such new 

 matter is accepted expressly or implied by the 

 original proposer. 



Contracts may, of course, be made verbally, 

 and anything which shows the actual meeting of 

 minds , as for example, a word, a nod or a sign, 

 or, in some instances silence even, as expressed 

 by the old adage, "Silence gives consent," is suffi- 

 cient; but this is so only when there is a duty 

 to speak or when there is some act manifesting 

 an acceptance of the proposal. But in ordinary 

 business transactions it is always best to reduce 

 the agreement to writing; in fact, it is often 

 necessary to do this in order to make a valid 

 agreement. 



It is an established rule in most states that 

 every contract for the sale of any goods, chattels 

 or things for the price of fifty dollars, or more, 

 is void unless, either 



1. A note or memorandum of such contract be 

 made in writing and be subscribed by the party to 

 be charged thereby; or, 



