(Mishnah) (R. Shimon): A person may make three heaps for every Beis Seah, but no more.

(Chachamim): To be permitted to increase the number of heaps, one must make them three tefachim deeper or raise them three tefachim higher (to show that he is not merely fertilizing his field).

A person may pile all of his manure in one place (rather than in three heaps).

(R. Meir): Only if he lowers or raises it three tefachim.

If he had a small quantity of manure, he may add to it (until he has reached the amount of 10 containers).

(R. Elazar ben Azaria): Only if he lowers or raises it three tefachim or he puts it on top of a rock.

(Gemara): Why did the Mishnah teach R. Shimon's opinion twice (both here and in the earlier Mishnah)?

Answer (R. Yirmiyah): Our Mishnah is when he reduces the number of containers per heap (to less than 10); the earlier Mishnah is when he uses 10 containers per heap.

Proof (Baraisa): About R. Shimon's statement, it was taught - as long as he doesn't have less than three containers in a heap.

The Mishnah taught that R. Meir prohibits (piling all his manure into one heap unless he lowers or raises it three tefachim). He only prohibits when he makes a pile larger than the size (of 3 heaps of 10 containers); but if he makes the heap that size, if it's permitted in 3 places, certainly it's permitted in one place!

(In the Mishnah, Chachamim and R. Elazar ben Azaria disagreed over a small quantity.) There are two ways to explain their disagreement...

Explanation #1: When he had a small quantity (of manure) in his house in Sheviis, he may add more, until there are 10 containers. When the workers have stopped their work, R. Elazar ben Azaria prohibits it. Why is this? Perhaps he won't find manure to complete the 10 and he would have thereby fertilized his field.

Explanation #2: When he had a small quantity (of manure) in his house before Sheviis, he may add more in Sheviis. When the workers have stopped their work, R. Elazar ben Azaria prohibits it. Why is this? Perhaps he won't find manure and he would have thereby fertilized his field.

Question on explanation #1: Why didn't R. Elazar ben Azaria allow adding a small amount if there was already manure there before Sheviis?

Answer (R. Ba/ R. Yirmiyah bei R. Bun bar Chiya citing R. Ba bar Mamal): Because of Maris HaAyin, unless he takes out 10 containers together.

Question: Are the Rabbanan not concerned for Maris Ayin?

Answer (R. Idi of Chutra): His basket and shovel show that he is merely making a heap.

(R. Yosi bei R. Bun): These two explanations follow that which was taught (in Maseches Moed Katan) - R. Eliezer ben Azaria says that one may not make a new channel (around and between fields) on Chol HaMoed (because it involves great effort) nor on Sheviis. (Why is that?)

Reason (R. Zeira): Because it prepares the earth around the channel for planting.

Alternative reason (R.Yirmiyah/ R. Bun bar Chiya citing R. Ba bar Mamal): Because of Maris Ayin (that it looks like he's digging for Sheviis).

They thought to suggest that the one that was concerned there (Mishnah in Moed Katan) for Maris Ayin would say the same thing here. And the one who said (in Moed Katan, that one may not make a channel) because it prepares the earth around the channel for planting; what would he say here (about Sheviis)? It must be like the first explanation, that he had a small quantity in his field - and perhaps he won't find manure and he would have thereby fertilized his field.

What's the difference between the two cases? If he dug to make foundations of a building.

They thought to suggest that there (a channel), according the opinion that it is because of Maris Ayin, here (foundations), it is prohibited for the same reason. And according to the opinion that there it's prohibited because he is preparing the sides for planting, here it does not apply.

All agree that if in the location that he put the manure, there were lime, pebbles or Gipsus stones, it is permitted to put some manure (and it is the same as putting manure on a stone).