A gourd [planted in a field of herbs] is [treated] as herbs [it is subject to the rules of herbs and requires a separation of six handbreadths], and is given a <i>beit rova</i>. If his field was sown with grain, and he wishes to plant in it one row of gourds, we give it for its work space [for tillage] a space of six handbreadths. If it grew [spread into the six handbtbreadth area] he must uproot in front of it. Rabbi Yose says, we give it for its work space [for tillage] four cubits. The [Sages] said to him, Why do you apply more stringent rules to this [gourds] than to a vine? Rabbi Yose said to them [the Sages], We indeed find that this is treated more stringently than a vine, [since] for a single vine we allow six handbreaths for its work space [for tillage] , and for a single gourd we give it a <i>beit rova</i> [for its tillage]. Rabbi Meir in the name of Rabbi Yishmael said, If there are three gourds in an area of a <i>beit se'ah</i> he may not bring [sow] any other [species of] seed into the <i>beit se'ah</i>. Rabbi Yose ben Ha'Hoteph Efrati said in the name of Rabbi Yishmael, If there are three gourds in an area of a <i>beit kor</i>, he may not bring [sow] any other [species of] seed into the <i>beit kor</i>.
English Explanation of Mishnah Kilayim
Introduction
This mishnah deals with how close one may sow gourds to other species of vegetables or grain.
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English Explanation of Mishnah Kilayim
A gourd [sown] among a [different] vegetable [must be separated by as much] as any other vegetable. If he wants to sow a single gourd plant next to a different vegetable, the same rule that always applies to vegetables still applies he must distance them six handbreadths.
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English Explanation of Mishnah Kilayim
[A gourd sown] among grain he must give it [a separating space of] a bet rova. However, if he wants to sow the gourd next to grain, he must separate them the same distance that grains must be separated by a bet-rova (a space big enough to grow a quarter kav of grain). This is 10.2 cubits by 10.2 cubits, or about 25 square meters (see above 2:10).
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English Explanation of Mishnah Kilayim
If his field was sown with grain, and he wishes to plant within it a row of gourds, he must give [the gourds] six handbreadths for them to be worked. And if [the row of gourds] overgrows [into the border] he must pull up that which is within it. If he wants to make an entire row of gourds he need not separate it as far from the grain as he would if it were a single plant, because an entire row is recognizable as being distinct and looks less like kilayim than does a single plant. All he must do is separate the row of gourds from the grain by six handbreadths, the amount of space he needs around the gourds in order to take care of them. If the gourd plants overgrow this six handbreadth limit, he needs to remove the leaves that creep into the separation area.
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English Explanation of Mishnah Kilayim
Rabbi Yose says: he must give [the gourds] four cubits for them to be worked. They said to him: Do you rule more stringently with regard to this than with regard to a vine? He said to them: We find that [the gourd] is treated more stringently than a vine, since for a single vine he must give six handbreadths for it to be worked, but for a single gourd a bet rova. Rabbi Yose disagrees with the previous opinion and holds that he must give the gourds four cubits space to work them. The other rabbis respond that this would make the rule with regard to gourds stricter than the rule with regard to vines. Below in mishnah 4:5 we will learn that when it comes to separating vines from grain, only six handbreadths are required. Since the rules of kilayim governing vines mixed in with grain are in some ways stricter than those governing mixing of seeds, the rabbis question why Rabbi Yose is stricter with regard to the mixing of seeds. Rabbi Yose answers that there is precedent for his strict ruling. Single vines may be planted six handbreadths from grain, whereas single gourd plants must be distanced by a bet rova, as we learned above. In essence, Rabbi Yose holds that there is no difference in the distancing of single plants from full rows if a single plant must be distanced by a bet-rova, then so too must the full row.
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English Explanation of Mishnah Kilayim
Rabbi Meir said in the name of Rabbi Ishmael: if there are as many as three gourds in a bet seah, he may not bring [another] seed into the bet seah. Rabbi Yose ben Hahotef Ephrati said in the name of Rabbi Ishmael: if there are as many as three gourds in a bet kor, one may not bring [another] seed into the bet kor. Rabbi Meir says that if there are three gourd plants in a field the size of a bet seah (2500 square cubits) then he should not put any other type of seed in that plant. From here we can see that according to Rabbi Meir, gourds must be separated from other vegetables by the distance of 1/3 of a bet seah, and not merely by a bet rova, a far smaller amount. Rabbi Meir attributes this opinion to Rabbi Ishmael. Rabbi Yose ben Hahotef Ephrati transmits an even stricter opinion in the name of Rabbi Ishmael. A bet kor is 75,000 square cubits. If one brings so much as three gourd plants into a field this size, he may not plant another species of vegetable in that same field.
