Question #2 (R. Nasa): If he made a Pe'ah (by inserting four canes into the four corners of a 6 by 6 Tefach area in the middle of a field and tying reeds between them on the top thereby sectioning off the area - see later Menachos 58), if he then planted a different species in that section, how long must that species extend?

Answer: From that which R. Yitzchak and R. Imi explained (the opinion of the first Tana in our Mishnah (Menachos 45) who permitted one species to be planted in the middle (of the 6 by 6 bordered patch) - the species planted on the border reduce the area (that may be planted and thereby allow only one species to be planted)...

This shows that even less than the 6 by 6 area may be planted.

Question: How much may one reduce the 6 by 6 area?

Answer (Tosefta): Pits that are a Tefach deep may have three types of seeds planted there - one on either edge of the pit and one in the middle. This shows that the minimum size of the planting area is a Tefach.

(R. Ba bar Kahana/ Shimon bar Narshayah citing R. Shimon ben Lakish): (Disagreeing with R. Tanchum of Butzra, who said earlier (Menachos 46(g)) that the Mishnah permitted planting on the border even when the bed is planted adjacent to other beds.) It is permitted only if the area around it is empty.

(R. Zeira): Each Tefach of a border (that is a Tefach high) is considered like a separate place.

Question #1: Why did the Mishnah allow 13 species when there's a border - it should be 25 - since there can be 6 on each border and one in the middle?

Question #2 (R. Bun bar Chiya citing R. Shmuel bar Rav Yitzchak): (The next Mishnah teaches) 'If a furrow or a stream were a Tefach deep, one may plant three types of seeds in them - one on each side and one in the middle.' Why didn't the Mishnah allow five - two on each side and one in the middle?

Answer: That may not be done, since the two on each side would surround the middle species.

Question (R. Bun bar Chiya citing R. Shmuel bar Rav Yitzchak): Could a border save a vegetable from (being Kilayim with) a Muksha plant (large-leaved melon-type plants such as gourds and pumkpins)?

Answer: If concerning seeds with seeds, which are saved if they are separated by 10 1/2 Amos, but still a border doesn't save them; concerning Muksha plants which are only saved with a separation of 12 Amos, certainly a border will not save them.

Question: Can a Muksha plant save itself from a prohibition if it's planted on top of a border?

Answer: If concerning seeds with seeds, which are saved if separated by 10 1/2 Amos, but planting on top of a border still doesn't save them; then concerning a Muksha plant, which is only saved with 8 Amos, certainly a border will not save them.

Rebuttal (R. Yudan, father of R. Matalya): Is this a good Kal Vechomer? (8 Amos is less than 10 1/2 Amos, so Muksha is actually more lenient in that way.)

Rather, it should be worded like this - if concerning seeds with seeds, which are saved if separated by 10 1/2 Amos, but planting on top of a border still doesn't save them; then concerning a Muksha plant, that is saved if separated by 12 Amos, certainly a border will not save them.