Si l'on vend des "fruits" [sans réserve] à son voisin, [sans préciser s'il s'agit de manger ou de semer, et ils ne poussent pas] —même les graines de lin, [qui sont généralement vendues pour semis], il n'est pas responsable des «retours», [car il peut dire: «Je les ai vendues pour les manger»; car la règle de la majorité n'est pas suivie en matière d'argent.] R. Shimon b. Gamliel dit: Avec les graines de jardin, qui ne sont pas consommées, il est responsable des retours. [La Gemara interprète toute la Mishna conformément à R. Gamliel. Il est considéré comme défectueux et doit être enseigné ainsi: "Il n'est pas responsable des retours même avec des graines de lin. Mais avec des graines de jardin, qui ne sont pas mangées, il est responsable des retours. Ce sont les paroles de R. Shimon b. Gamliel. (Car R. Shimon b. Gamliel dit que l'on est responsable des semences de jardin, qui ne sont pas consommées.) C'est une "vente erronée", car elles ont certainement été vendues pour semer.]
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?
