If one sells "fruits" [unqualified] to his neighbor, [not specifying whether for eating or for sowing, and they do not sprout] — even flax seed, [which is generally sold for sowing], he is not liable for "returns," [for he can say: "I sold them for eating"; for the rule of the majority is not followed in money matters.] R. Shimon b. Gamliel says: With garden seeds, which are not eaten, he is responsible for returns. [The Gemara construes the entire Mishnah in accordance with R. Gamliel. It is regarded as defective and to be taught thus: "He is not liable for returns even with flax seed. But with garden seeds, which are not eaten, he is liable for returns. These are the words of R. Shimon b. Gamliel. (For R. Shimon b. Gamliel says that one is liable for garden seeds, which are not eaten.) It is a "mistaken sale," for they were certainly sold for sowing.]
Bartenura on Mishnah Bava Batra
המוכר פירות – undefined, and it (i.e., the Mishnah) does not explain whether for eating or for sowing.
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English Explanation of Mishnah Bava Batra
Introduction
Mishnah one deals with a person who sells grain to another person and the seeds from that grain do not sprout when planted.
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Bartenura on Mishnah Bava Batra
אפילו זרע פשתן – for most purchase it for sowing. One can say: “I sold it for eating, and we don’t follow after the majority for money.
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English Explanation of Mishnah Bava Batra
If a man sold grain to his fellow [and after it was sown] it did not sprout, even if it was flax-seed he is not liable. Rabban Shimon ben Gamaliel says: “If it was garden-seeds, which are not used for food, he is liable.” According to the anonymous opinion in section one, when a person sells grain to another person, if he does not specify that the grain is for planting, he is not liable if the grain doesn’t spout after planted. Even if he sold flax seed, which is usually sold for sprouting new flax plants, he is still not liable. Since he didn’t specify that he was selling grain to be planted, he can claim that he intended it to be used as food. According to Rabban Shimon ben Gamaliel if he sold him seeds that are always used for planting then he is liable if they do not sprout. Otherwise, he is not liable.
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Bartenura on Mishnah Bava Batra
רבן שמעון בן גמליאל אומר וכו' – The Gemara (Talmud Bava Batra 93b) establishes all of our Mishnah according to Rabban Shimon ben Gamaliel but the Mishnah is deficient and should be read as follows: even if it were flax seed, he is not responsible. But surely, garden seeds which are not eaten, one is responsible for them, the words of Rabbi Shimon ben Gamaliel. For Rabban Shimon ben Gamaliel states that garden seeds which are not eaten, one is responsible for them, for it is an errant transaction for certainly he sold them for planting.
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English Explanation of Mishnah Bava Batra
Questions for Further Thought: • If a person sold seeds and they did not sprout is he liable to give the buyer back his money? How can one know the answer to this question from the mishnah?
