Bava Batra 165

בדורא דרעותא ואתו לקמיה דרב יהודה וא"ל זיל הב ליה כמלא בקר וכליו ולא הוה ידענא כמלא בקר וכליו כמה כיון דשמעת' להא דתנן לא יטע אדם אילן סמוך לשדה חבירו אא"כ הרחיק ממנה ד' אמות

in Dura di-ra'awatha<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' V. p. 222, n. 8 ');">¹</span> [where three trees, planted at distances of less than eight cubits between them, were sold], and, when [the disputants] came before Rab Judah, he said unto [the buyer]: Go [and] give him [his share in the ground, even though the spaces between the trees are just] enough for a pair of oxen and their [ploughing] outfit. I did not know [at the time] how large was the 'space of a pair of oxen and their outfit'. When, however, I heard the following [Mishnah in] which we learnt: A man must not plant a tree near his neighbour's field<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' In order that, when ploughing round the tree, he should not have to draw the plough through his neighbour's field. ');">²</span>

ותני עלה ד' אמות שאמרו כדי עבודת הכרם אמינא ש"מ כמלא בקר וכליו ד' אמות

unless he has kept at a distance of four cubits:<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Supra 18a; 26a. ');">³</span> and in connection with this it has been taught: 'The four cubits mentioned are the dimensions of the space required for attending to the vineyard': I concluded that the 'space of a pair of oxen and their outfit' is four cubits. But is there not also a Mishnah which agrees with [the report of] R. Joseph? Surely<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' For this reading, cf. BaH, a.l. ');">⁴</span>

וכרב יוסף מי לא תנן ר"מ ור"ש אומרים הנוטע את כרמו שמונה אמות על שמונה מותר להביא זרע לשם

we learnt:<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Kil. IV, 9. ');">⁵</span> R. Meir and R. Simeon say: He who plants his vineyard [leaving distances of] eight cubits [between the rows] may insert seed there!<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Between the rows, though the intervening spaces are only eight cubits in width. Why. then, did Abaye tell R. Joseph that he must not dispute the report of R. Nahman? ');">⁶</span>

אפילו הכי מעשה עדיף

— A practical decision<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Cf. Shab. 21a, and further references there. ');">⁷</span> is, nevertheless, preferable.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' The Mishnah describing the occurrence in Zalmon, where the action of the planter received the definite approval of the Sages, is more to be relied upon than the other part of that Mishnah, which is a record of theoretical opinion only. ');">⁸</span>

בשלמא לרב יוסף אליבא דר"ש שמעינן ליה מפוזרין ושמעינן ליה רצופין מפוזרין הא דאמרן רצופין דתנן כרם הנטוע על פחות מד"א אינו כרם דברי ר"ש וחכ"א כרם ורואין את האמצעיים כאילו אינן

[The statement] of R. Joseph who follows R. Simeon may be regarded as satisfactory. [since] we have heard [a definition of] scattered [trees] and we have [also] heard [a definition of] closely [planted trees]. [With regard to trees] scattered, [we have the Mishnah] just mentioned.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Supra, quoted from Kil. IV, 9. This Mishnah defines 'scattered trees' as those planted at distances of no less than eight cubits from each other. ');">⁹</span> [As regards trees planted] closely, it has been taught:<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Kil. V, 2; supra 37b; infra 102b. ');">¹⁰</span>

אלא לרב נחמן אליבא דרבנן מפוזרין שמעינן ליה רצופין מי שמעינן ליה סברא הוא מדלר"ש פלגא לרבנן נמי פלגא

A vineyard planted on [an area of] less than four cubits is not [regarded as] a vineyard — these are the words of R. Simeon. And the sages say: [It is regarded as a] vineyard, the intervening vines being treated as if they were not [in existence].<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' The Rabbis' opinion is based on the assumption that the intervening vines are not to remain in the vineyard, but to be transplanted. Trees that are destined to be removed are regarded as already removed. ');">¹¹</span> [The statement], however, of R. Nahman who follows the Rabbis [cannot very well be considered satisfactory; for] we have heard [a definition of] scattered [trees, but] have we heard [a definition of] closely [planted trees]? — This [latter definition is arrived at] logically: Since according to R. Simeon [the distances between closely planted trees are] half [of those of scattered trees], according to the Rabbis also, [the proportion of the distances is a] half.

אמר רבא הלכתא מארבע אמות ועד שש עשרה תניא כוותיה דרבא כמה יהו מקורבין ארבע אמות וכמה יהו מרוחקין שש עשרה

Raba said: The law is [that a buyer of three trees acquires implicitly the ground also when the distances between the respective trees are] from four<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' In accordance with Rab Judah's decision (which has not been disputed by the Rabbis) in the case of the shepherds' settlement. ');">¹²</span> to sixteen cubits.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' As the Sages ruled in the case of the Zalmon vineyard. ');">¹³</span>

הרי זה קנה קרקע ואת האילנות שביניהן לפיכך יבש האילן או נקצץ יש לו קרקע פחות מכאן או יתר על כאן או שלקחן בזה אחר זה הרי זה לא קנה לא את הקרקע ולא את האילנות שביניהן לפיכך יבש האילן או נקצץ אין לו קרקע

In agreement with Raba's opinion it has been taught: How near [to each other] may [the trees] be? — [No nearer than] four cubits. And how far removed may they be? — [No more than]<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Cf. Tosaf. s.v. [H]. According to Rashi. s.v. [H] 'just under sixteen cubits'. ');">¹⁴</span> sixteen cubits. [He who buys three trees of these] has [implicitly] acquired the [necessary] ground and the intervening [young] trees. Consequently, [if] a tree dries up or is cut down [the buyer of the trees] retains [his rights in] the ground. [If the distances between the trees are] less, or more than [the figures] given, or if [the trees] were purchased one after the other, [the buyer] does not acquire either the ground or the intervening [young] trees. Consequently, [if] a tree dries up or is cut down, [the buyer] retains no [title to the] ground.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Is not entitled to replace the dead, or felled tree by another. ');">¹⁵</span>

בעי רבי ירמיה כשהוא מודד ממקום קצר הוא מודד או ממקום רחב הוא מודד א"ל רב גביהה מבי כתיל לרב אשי תא שמע דתנן הרכובה שבגפן אינו מודד אלא מעיקר השני

R. Jeremiah inquired: Does one measure [the required distances between the trees] from the thin<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' I.e., the stem. ');">¹⁶</span> or thick<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' I.e., near the roots. ');">¹⁷</span>

בעי רבי ירמיה מכר לו שלשה בדי אילן מהו

parts [of the trees]? — R. Gebiha of Be-Kathil said to R. Ashi: Come and hear! We learnt:<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Kil. VII. 1. ');">¹⁸</span> [In the case of] a layer<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' [H], an undetached shoot of the vine laid in the ground for propagation. ');">¹⁹</span>

אמר ליה רב גביהה מבי כתיל לרב אשי ת"ש דתנן המבריך ג' גפנים ועקריהן נראין ר"א ברבי צדוק אומר אם יש ביניהן מד' אמות ועד שמונה מצטרפין ואם לאו אין מצטרפין

of the vine, one is to measure from the second root,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Which proves that the measurement is made from the thick part of the tree (Tosaf. s.v. [H] a.l.). Rashb. (s.v. [H] a.l.), giving [H] the interpretation of 'grafting'. concludes that the measurement is to be neither from the thick (first knot) nor from the thin (third knot) of the vine (or any other tree). R. Gersh. (a.l.) regards the second root as the thin part of the vine. ');">²⁰</span> only.

בעי רב פפא מכר לו שנים בתוך שדהו ואחד על המצר מהו שנים בתוך שלו ואחד בתוך של חבירו מאי תיקו

R. Jeremiah inquired: What is the law when one sold three branches of [one] tree, [four cubits distant from one another, and covered with alluvium at their knots so that they appear as three separate trees]?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Are they regarded as three separate trees, the buyer consequently acquiring possession of the necessary ground, or as one tree, since they grow from the same stem? ');">²¹</span> — R. Gebiha of Be-Kathil said to R. Ashi: Come and hear! We learnt:<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Kil. VII, 2. ');">²²</span> Where one bends three vines [covering the middle parts with earth so that the layers,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Cf. n. 5. ');">²³</span> when detached from the original vines, may each form two vines] and their [new] roots are seen,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' The layers have generated their own roots. ');">²⁴</span> if there is a distance between them of four to eight cubits they combine, said R. Eleazar b. Zadok, to form a vineyard,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' A vineyard consists of no less than five vines. Since each of the three layers. now that their roots are generated. form two vines, the original three vines have become six. ');">²⁵</span> and if not, they do not combine.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' This Mishnah clearly proves that the junction of two vines at the same root does not prevent them from being regarded as separate vines. Likewise in the case of the purchase of three branches of one tree, so long as they are separated by the proper distances, they are regarded as three separate trees. ');">²⁶</span> R. Papa inquired: What is the law when he sold two [trees] in his field and one on [its] border, [do they combine<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' To entitle the buyer to acquire ownership of the necessary ground. ');">²⁷</span> or not]? [If it is replied that in this case they combine], what is the law [when he sold] two [trees] in his [own field] and one [tree which he owned together with its ground] in [the field] of his neighbour? — The matter stands undecided.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' [H] = [H] 'let it stand'. An expression used when no definite answer could be given to any question or inquiry. Others regard [H] as formed from the initials of [H] (Elijah the Tishbite will solve all difficulties and enquiries). ');">²⁸</span>