If a triangular corner point of herbs enters into a field of a different herb it is permitted [it is not considered <i>kilayim</i>], because it is obvious that it is the end of the field. If the field was sown with [one species of] herbs and he wishes to plant in it one row of different herbs, Rabbi Yishmael says, [he may do so] providing that the furrow is open [runs through] from one end of the field to the other. Rabbi Akivah says, the length [of the furrow] must be six handbreadths and the width must be its fullsize [six handbreadths]. Rabbi Yehudah says, [the furrow must be] the width of a full footstep [one handbreadth].
English Explanation of Mishnah Kilayim
Introduction
This mishnah deals with potential problems of kilayim in vegetable fields. Note that I have explained this mishnah according to Albeck’s commentary.
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English Explanation of Mishnah Kilayim
If the point of an angle of a vegetable field overlaps into a field of another vegetable, it is permitted because it looks like the end of his field. This section is the same as section one of mishnah 2:7. I am copying my commentary here so that you don’t have to go back and look at it: In this case, a point of an angle of a field planted with one type of vegetable enters into, or according to other interpretations, is adjacent to, a field planted with a different type of vegetable. Imagine a triangular field, where one of the corners is next to a square field. Since it looks like the angle is the end of one of the vegetable fields, there is no problem of kilayim here.
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English Explanation of Mishnah Kilayim
His field was sown with a certain vegetable and he wants to plant in it a row of another vegetable: Rabbi Ishmael says: [he may do so] as long as a furrow runs through from one end of the field to the other. Rabbi Akiva says: [as long as] it is six handbreadths long and fully as wide. Rabbi Judah says: [as long as] the width is the full width of a footstep. All three sages in this mishnah allow one to plant one row of a different species of vegetable within a field of another species of vegetable. The three sages differ with regard to how long this row has to be. Rabbi Ishmael says that the row has to run the whole distance of the field, essentially dividing the field in half. This turns the row of a different vegetable into its own field, in which case there is no problem of kilayim. Rabbi Akiva says that the row need not go the entire distance of the field. His condition is that the row must be six handbreadths wide and as wide below as it is above. That is to say the sides of the furrow don’t slant but are rather dug straight down. Rabbi Judah says that the width need only be as wide as a footstep. In the Talmud this is explained to be one handbreadth. Rabbi Judah agrees with Rabbi Akiva that the furrow need not run the whole length of the field.
