All handles of foods that one crushed on the threshing floor are tahor. R’ Yose rules [the crushed stalks] tamei. A snippet of a cluster of grapes that one bared is tahor. [But] if one left a single berry on it, it is tamei. A spikelet of dates that one bared is tahor. [But] if one left on a single date it is tamei. And so too with legumes, a pod that one bared is tahor. [If] one left on a single berry, it is tamei. R’ Elazar ben Azariah rules [the pod] of fava beans tahor, and rules [the pod] of [other] beans tamei, because [a person] desires the feel of them.

The peduncle of figs, dried figs, chickpeas, and carobs, these contract tumah and convey tumah, and combine. R’ Yose says: Even the peduncle of a gourd. The peduncles of pears, krustemilin apples, quinces, and sorbs; the peduncle of a gourd, a handbreadth; the peduncle of an eggplant, a handbreadth. R’ Elazar the son of R’ Zadok says: Two handbreadths. these contract tumah and convey tumah, but do not combine. And all other peduncles do not contract tumah and do not convey tumah.

Olives that one preserved with their leaves are tahor, because he only soaked them for [their] appearance. The hairs of cucumbers and its blossom are tahor. R’ Yehudah says: As long as [the cucumber] is by a merchant, it is tamei.

All pits contract tumah and convey tumah but do not combine. The pit of a moist [date], even though it protrudes, combines. [But the pit] of a dry [date] does not combine. Therefore, the membrane of a dry [date] combines. But [the membrane] of a moist [date] does not combine. A pit, of which a portion protrudes, that which is opposite the food combines. A bone on which there is meat, that which is opposite the food combines. If [meat] was on one side [of the bone], R’ Yishmael says: We view it as if [the meat] surrounds [the bone] in a ring. But the Sages say: What is opposite the food combines, like wild rosemary, hyssop, and savory.

[Regarding] a pomegranate or watermelon a portion of which is rotten, [that portion] does not combine. [If the fruit is] complete on either side and rotten in the middle, it does not combine. The pitam of a pomegranate combines. But its neitz does not combine. R’ Eliezer says: Even the masreik is tahor.

All peels contract tumah and convey tumah, and combine. R’ Yehudah says: [There are] three peels on an onion. The innermost [peel], whether [it is] whole or perforated, combines. The middle [peel], [if it is] whole, it combines, but [if it is] perforated it does not combine. And the outermost [peel], in either case, is tahor.

[Regarding] one who cuts [a food] in order to cook [it], even though he did not complete the cut, it is not a connection. [But if he cut it] in order to preserve [it], or to overcook [it], or to place [it] on the table, [it is considered] a connection. [If] he began to separate [the sections], the food with which he began [to separate] is not [considered] a connection. [Regarding] walnuts that one braided together, [or] onions that he bunched together, these are a connection. [If] he began to take [them] apart in [the case of] walnuts, or to peel [them] in [the case of] onions, it is not a connection. [The shells of] walnuts and almonds are a connection, until one crushes [them].

[The shell of] a slightly roasted egg [is a connection] until one cuts [it]. But [the shell of] an overcooked [egg is a connection] until he crushes [it]. A bone that has marrow in it is a connection until one crushes it. [The peel of] a pomegranate that one separated is a connection until he beats on it with a stick. Similarly, the bastings of launderers, and a garment that is sewn with kilayim, is a connection, until he begins to undo [it].

The green leaves of greens combine. But white [leaves] do not combine. R’ Elazar the son of Zadok says: The white [leaves] combine in [the case of] kohlrabi, because they are food. And in [the case of] lettuce, for they protect the food.

[Regarding] the leaves of onions and the stalks of onions, if they contain sap, they are measured as they are. [But] if they contain a hollow, one must compress the hollow. Sponge bread is measured as it is. If it contains a hollow, one must compress the hollow. [Regarding] the meat of a calf that swelled, and the meat of an old [animal] that shrank, they are measured as they are.

[Regarding] a cucumber that one planted in a flowerpot, and it grew and extended out of the flowerpot, it is tahor. R’ Shimon said: What is the basis for purifying it? Rather, the tamei [portion remains] with its tumah, and the tahor [portion] may be eaten.

Dung vessels and mud vessels through which the roots can go out do not render plants susceptible to tumah. A perforated flowerpot does not render plants susceptible to tumah. But one that is not perforated does render plants susceptible to tumah. What is the [minimum] measure of the hole? [Large] enough that a small root can go out through it. [If] one filled it with soil to its edge, it is like a board that has no rim.