Commentary for Bava Batra 7:17

רבי יוחנן אמר

Said Raba to him: If that is the meaning, what are we to make of the word BUT?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' On Abaye's theory, this should come after IN A STRETCH OF FIELDS, not before it, ');">²⁶</span> No, said Raba; we must read the Mishnah thus: 'Similarly with an ordinary orchard, which is regarded as a place where it is customary to make a fence, and he can be compelled: but an ordinary stretch of cornfields is regarded as a place where it is not customary to make a fence, and he is not compelled.' IF, HOWEVER, ONE DESIRES TO MAKE A FENCE, HE MUST WITHDRAW A LITTLE AND BUILD ON HIS OWN GROUND, MAKING A FACING. How does he make a facing? — R. Huna says: He bends the edge over towards the outer side. Why should he not make it on the inner side?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Which would equally be a sign that the wall is his. ');">²⁷</span> — Because then his neighbour may make another one on the outer side<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' I.e., on his side. ');">²⁸</span> and say that the wall belongs to both of them.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lit., 'say it is mine and his', as having jointly made it originally. ');">²⁹</span> If he can do that, then even if the ledge is on the outer side he can cut it off and say that the wall belongs to both? — Breaking off would be noticeable. According to another version, R. Huna said: He bends the edge over on the inner side. Why should he not bend it over on the outer side? — His neighbour may break it off and say that the wall belongs to both of them.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lit., 'say it is mine and his', as having jointly made it originally. ');">²⁹</span> If he can do that, he can join one on and claim that the wall belongs to both? — Such a joining on would be noticeable. But the Mishnah says, ON THE OUTER SIDE?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' How then could R. Huna say that he should make the facing on the inner side? ');">³⁰</span> — This is certainly a difficulty. R. Johanan said:

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