4. “One tree produced a heap of figs, and two trees did not produce it; or two trees produced it, and one did not produce it?” “Men may not plough save what is absolutely needful for them, till they be from three to nine in number.” “If they be ten?” “On their account men may legally plough around them the whole fifty cubits square; and also from ten trees and upward, whether they produce or do not produce [pg 056] it.” As is said, “in earing-time and in harvest thou shalt rest.”[40] There is no need to say earing-time and harvest in the Sabbatical year, but earing-time on the eve of the Sabbatical year, when it is just entering on the Sabbatical year; and harvest of the Sabbatical year, which is proceeding toward the close of the Sabbatical year. Rabbi Ishmael said, “as the earing-time (mentioned Exod. xxxiv. 21) is voluntary, so the harvest is voluntary, except the harvest of the (omer) sheaf.”[41]
5. “If the three trees belong to three owners?” “They are reckoned as one, and on their account they may legally plough the whole fifty cubits square around them.” “And how much space must be between them?” Rabban Simon, the son of Gamaliel, said, “that a bullock with his ploughing instruments may pass.”
6. “If there be ten saplings dispersed in the fifty cubits square?” “On their account men may plough the whole fifty cubits square around them till new year's day.” “If they be placed in a row, or rounded like a crown?” “Men may not plough save what is absolutely needful for them.”
7. The saplings and the gourds are reckoned alike in the fifty cubits square. Rabban Simon, the son of Gamaliel, said, “for every ten cucumbers in the fifty cubits square, men may plough the fifty cubits square around them till new year's day.”
8. “How long are they called saplings?” Rabbi Eleazar, the son of Azariah, said,[42] “till they can be used.” R. Joshua said, “till the age of seven years.” R. Akiba said, “a sapling, as commonly named.” “A tree decays and sprouts afresh; when less than a handbreadth, it is a sapling; when more than a handbreadth, it is a tree.” The words of Rabbi Simon.
Chapter II
1. “How long may men plough in a white[43] field on the eve of the Sabbatical year?” “Till the productiveness ceases; so long as men usually plough to plant cucumbers and gourds.” Said R. Simon, “thou hast put the law in every man's hand. [pg 057] But men may plough in a grain field till the Passover, and in a field of trees till Pentecost.”
2. Men may dung and dig among cucumbers and gourds till new year's day, and they may also do so in a parched-up field. They may prune them, remove their leaves, cover them with earth, and fumigate them, till new year's day. R. Simon said, “one may even remove the leaf from the bunch of grapes in the Sabbatical year.”
3. Men may remove stones till new year's day. They may gather the ears, they may break off branches, they may cut off the withered part till new year's day. R. Joshua said, “as they may break off branches and cut off the withered part of the fifth year, so also they may do it in the sixth year.” Rabbi Simon said, “every time I am permitted to work among the trees, I am permitted to cut off the withered part.”