[If] a fence has in it ten stones each of which is a two-man burden, they may be taken. The measure of a wall is ten handbreadths. Less than this it is [like] a quarry, and he may raze it to within one handbreadth of the ground. In regard to what was this said? [In regard to removing stones] from within his own [field], but from within his friends’s [field] he may take what he wants. In regard to what was this said? When he did not begin it by the eve of the seventh [year]; but if he began it by the eve of the seventh [year], he may take what he wants. [If] a fence has in it ten stones each of which is a two-man burden, they may be taken. The measure of a wall is ten handbreadths. Less than this it is [like] a quarry, and he may raze it to within one handbreadth of the ground. In regard to what was this said? [In regard to removing stones] from within his own [field], but from within his friends’s [field] he may take what he wants. In regard to what was this said? When he did not begin it by the eve of the seventh [year]; but if he began it by the eve of the seventh [year], he may take what he wants.

Stones that were dislodged by the plow, or that were covered and became exposed — if there are two [stones] among them [that are] a two-man burden, they may be taken. Someone clearing stones from his field may remove the upper [ones] but must leave those which touch the ground. Similarly, [when clearing] a pile of pebbles or a heap of stones — he may remove the upper [ones] but must leave those which touch the ground. If there was bedrock or straw underneath them, they may be taken.

One may not build steps leading to ravines on the eve of the seventh [year] once the rains have stopped, because he is preparing them for the seventh [year]. But he may build during the seventh [year] once the rains have stopped, because he is preparing them for [the year] following the seventh. He may not support [the dam] with mortar, but he may make a [loose] partition. Any stone which one can stretch out his hand and take may be taken.

Shoulder stones may be brought from any place; and a contractor may bring from any place. What are shoulder stones? Any that cannot be carried with one hand; [these are] the words of R’ Meir. R’ Yose says: Shoulder stones [are] as their name [implies] — any that are carried two or three [at a time] on the shoulder.

One who builds a wall between his [property] and the public domain is permitted to dig down to the bedrock. What should he do with the dirt? He should pile it in the public domain and repair it; [these are] the words of R’ Yehoshua. R’ Akiva says: Just as one may not cause damage to the public domain, so too one should not [even] repair it. What [then] should he do with the dirt? He should pile it inside his field in the manner of stored dung. So too, one who digs a pit, a ditch, or a vault.

At first they used to say [that] a person may gather sticks, stones, and grasses from his [field] in the same manner that he gathers from his neighbor’s [field] — the large [ones]. When the transgressors multiplied, they instituted that each may [only] gather from another’s field without benefit, and needless to say, without apportioning food to them.

A field which was cleared of thorns may be sown in [the year] following the seventh. [A field] which was plowed thoroughly or [in] which [animals] were penned may not be sown in [the year] following the seventh. [If] a field was plowed thoroughly — Beis Shammai say: One may not eat its produce during the seventh [year]. But Beis Hillel say: One may eat [it]. Beis Shammai say: One may not eat Shemittah produce with [an acknowledgment of] gratitude. But Beis Hillel say: One may eat with or without [an acknowledgment of] gratitude. R’ Yehudah says: The opinions are reversed — this is one of [the instances in which] the ruling of Beis Shammai is lenient while the ruling of Beis Hillel is stringent.

One may rent plowed fields from non-Jews during the seventh [year], but not from Jews. One may offer encouragement to non-Jews during the seventh [year], but not to Jews; and one may inquire into their well-being, [in keeping with] the ways of peace.

[If] one thins out olive trees — Beis Shammai say: He razes [them]. But Beis Hillel say: He [may even] uproot them. They agree, however, that one who clears [may] only raze. What constitutes thinning? One or two [trees]. Clearing? Three, one next to the other. In what case was this said? In his own [property], but from within his friend’s [property], even if he clears he may uproot.

One who splits [wood from] an olive tree may not cover [the cut] with dirt, but he may cover it with stones or straw. One who cuts beams of sycamore may not cover [the cut] with dirt, but he may cover it with stones or straw. One may not cut down a virgin sycamore in the seventh [year], because it is a labor. R’ Yehudah says: In the [regular] way, it is forbidden; rather, he should raise [the cut above] ten handbreadths, or raze it at the ground.

One who clips grapevines or cuts down reeds — R’ Yose HaGlili says: He must move [the cut] one handbreadth away. R’ Akiva says: He may cut in the normal way with an axe, a sickle, a saw or with whatever he should want. A tree which has cracked may be tied during the seventh [year], not so that it will heal, but so that it will not deteriorate further.

. From when may one eat fruits of the tree during the seventh [year]? Unripe figs: Once they redden one may eat them with his bread in the field; when they grow large, one may gather them into the house. So too, at the same stage in the other years of the seven-year cycle, it [becomes] subject to the obligation of tithes.

The unripe grape: Once it produces juice one may eat his bread with it in the field; when it becomes transparent, one may bring it into his house. So too, at the same stage in the other years of the seven-year cycle, it [becomes] subject to the obligation of tithes.

Olives: Once they yield a quarter-[log] per seah one may break [them] open and eat [them] in the field; when they yield a half-log one may crush [them] and anoint [himself] in the field; when they yield a third, one may crush [them] in the field and bring [them] into his house. So too, at the same stage during the other years of the seven-year cycle, they [become] subject to the obligation of tithes. All other fruits of the tree, whatever their time for tithes, so too is their time for the seventh [year].

From when is it forbidden to cut down a tree during the seventh [year]? Beis Shammai say: Every tree from when it bursts forth. Beis Hillel say: Carob trees, from when they hang; grapevines, from when they form seeds; olive trees, from when they blossom; and any other tree, from when it bursts forth. And every tree, once its [fruit] reaches the stage of tithing, one is permitted to cut it down. How much must there be on an olive tree before one is prohibited to cut it down? A quarter-[kav]. Rabban Shimon ben Gamliel says: [It] all depends on the olive tree.

White figs [have] their seventh [year in] the second [year of the cycle], because they grow over three years. R’ Yehudah says: The parsaos [have] their seventh [year in the year] following the seventh, because they grow over two years. They said to him: They said [this] only [in regard to] white figs.