
    (21 Misc. Rep. 431.)
    HELMER v. BROCKERT.
    (Oneida County Court.
    October, 1897.)
    Liability of Wive—Purchases by Husband.
    In an action against the wife for the value of fertilizer used on the farm of the wife, where it is shown that the husband made the contract therefor, and the fertilizer was charged to him, and that he had occupied the farm and raised and disposed of the crops thereof for his own account for 15 years, the fertilizer was not used for the benefit of the separate estate or business of the wife, and she was not liable for the debt.
    Appeal from justice court.
    Action by Bobert Helmer against Billa Brockert, impleaded, and others. From a judgment for plaintiff, defendant Billa Brockert appeals.
    Beversed.
    H. B. Hadley, for appellant.
    Walter Ballou, for respondent.
   DUNMORE, J.

This action was brought to recover for fertilizer purchased by appellant’s husband from plaintiff to be used upon the farm which appellant owned and which she and her husband occupied. There is no evidence that appellant was cultivating the land in question or carrying on the business of farming. Her husband testified that for 15 years he had raised crops of some kind upon this farm, and ■sold and disposed of them on his own account, excepting such as were consumed in the family.' This evidence was not disputed. There is no evidence that appellant had purchased the fertilizer or promised to pay for it. Plaintiff testified that the only time he saw appellant was when he went to notify her husband that the car of fertilizer had -come, and that upon that occasion he told her that he had come to let .her husband know that the fertilizer had arrived, and asked where he was. She replied that he was out at the barn, plowing. Plaintiff then went out there and told him, and he went and got the fertilizer. There is no evidence that appellant had anything to do with it. Plaintiff testified that he did not think he charged the fertilizer to the wife, but the inference is imperative that he did charge it to the husband. The burden of proof was upon plaintiff to establish by evidence appellant’s liability. Plaintiff contends that the fertilizer was used for the benefit of appellant’s separate estate and business both, and that within the authority of Holden v. Kutscher, 17 Misc. Rep. 540, 40 N. Y. Supp. 737, and Boynton v. Squires, 85 Hun, 128, 32 N. Y. Supp. 476, appellant is liable. In the former case lumber was sold to be used in building a house upon a lot owned by the wife. The wife was present when the lumber was delivered, and said she was glad they had come .and brought the lumber, so that they could finish off the house. Her husband, when asking for the credit, represented that he and his wife owned the lot. In that case the building of the house was making a permanent and valuable improvement to the wife’s property. The court held that it was a very close question as to whether the wife was liable, but upheld a judgment against her upon the ground that the evidence would sustain a finding that the husband purchased the lumber as his wife’s agent. The latter case was an action brought for paint and oils ordered by the husband to be used in painting the wife’s buildings, with her knowledge and consent. That was also for the benefit of the wife’s separate estate. But in the case at bar the fertilizer was for the benefit of the growing crops, and, as she was not ■carrying on the farm, it cannot be said that it was for the benefit of her separate estate. I think the case of Jones v. Walker, 63 N. Y. 612, is an authority so directly in point as to be conclusive in this case. In that case it was held that the relation of husband and wife, and the •knowledge of the wife that the work was in progress, and that she did not object, were insufficient to charge the wife or establish agency. There must be some evidence of agency. It is not claimed that there was any such evidence in this case. We are therefore forced to the conclusion that, as to the wife, the plaintiff should have been non-suited. The judgment must therefore be reversed, with costs.

Judgment reversed, with costs.  