אילן שמקצתו נטוע בארץ ומקצתו בחוצה לארץ הואיל ומקצתו נטוע בארץ כאילו כולו נטוע בארץ דברי רבי רבן שמעון בן גמליאל אומר [חצר] הנטוע בארץ ישראל הרי הוא כארץ ישראל [חצר] הנטועה בחוצה לארץ הרי הוא כחו"ל.
A tree that is partly planted in Eretz Yisrael and partly planted outside the Land -- because part is planted in the Land, it is as if all of it were planted in the land. These are the words of Rebbe [Yehudah ha-Nasi]. Rabban Shimon ben Gamliel says, that portion which is planted in Eretz Yisrael, is considered as [part of] Eretz Yisrael; that which is planted outside the Land, is considered as being outside the Land.
תא שמע אילן מקצתו בארץ ומקצתו בחו"ל טבל וחולין מעורבין זה בזה דברי רבי רבן שמעון בן גמליאל אומר הגדל בחיוב חייב הגדל בפטור פטור ע"כ.
לא פליגי אלא דמר סבר יש ברירה ומר סבר אין ברירה אבל גדל בפטור דברי הכל פטור.
הכא במאי עסקינן דמפסיק צונמא אי הכי מאי טעמיה דרבי דהדרי ערבי ובמאי קא מיפלגי מר סבר אוירא מבלבל ומר סבר האי לחודיה קאי והאי לחודיה קאי.
ושש עשרה אמה ותו לא והא תנן מרחיקין את האילן מן הבור כ"ה אמה אמר אביי מיזל טובא אזלי אכחושי לא מכחשי אלא עד שש עשרה אמה טפי לא מכחשי כי אתא רב דימי אמר בעא מיניה ריש לקיש מרבי יוחנן אילן הסמוך למיצר בתוך י"ו אמה מהו אמר ליה גזלן הוא ואין מביאין ממנו בכורים כי אתא רבין אמר רבי יוחנן אחד אילן הסמוך למיצר ואחד אילן הנוטה מביא וקורא שעל מנת כן הנחיל יהושע לישראל את הארץ:
The Gemara further suggests: Come and hear a proof from a baraita (Tosefta, Ma’asrot 2:22): If there is a tree, part of which is in Eretz Yisrael and part of which is outside of Eretz Yisrael, it is considered as though untithed produce, i.e., produce that is subject to the halakhot of terumot and tithes, and non-sacred produce, i.e., produce that is exempt from the halakhot of terumot and tithes, are mixed together in each one of this tree’s fruits. This is the statement of Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi. Rabban Shimon ben Gamliel says: With regard to the fruits in the part of the tree that is growing in a place where there is an obligation to separate tithes, i.e., in Eretz Yisrael, the owner is obligated to separate tithes. With regard to the fruits that are growing in a place where there is an exemption from separating tithes, i.e., outside of Eretz Yisrael, the owner is exempt. The Gemara comments:
They disagree only in that one Sage, Rabban Shimon ben Gamliel, holds that there is retroactive designation, and therefore it is assumed that the nourishment drawn from Eretz Yisrael sustained the fruit that grew on that side of the tree, and the nourishment drawn from outside Eretz Yisrael sustained the fruit that grew there. And one Sage, Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi, holds that there is no retroactive designation, and the fruit is considered mixed. But if the tree grew entirely in a place where there is an exemption from separating tithes, i.e., outside Eretz Yisrael, all agree that the owner is exempt, even though the tree might have roots within sixteen cubits of Eretz Yisrael and draw nourishment from there. This presents a difficulty for the opinion of Ulla, as he claims that the place from where a tree draws its nourishment is decisive with regard to first fruits.
The Gemara answers: With what are we dealing here? We are dealing with a case where a rock divides the roots up to the trunk, and therefore it is possible to distinguish between the parts of the tree that draw nutrients from Eretz Yisrael and the parts that draw nutrients from outside of Eretz Yisrael. The Gemara asks: If so, what is the reasoning of Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi? Why does he view the fruits as being a mixture? The Gemara answers: He holds that although there is a division between the roots, they cannot be distinguished from one another, as they then become mixed in the body of the tree. The Gemara asks: And with regard to what principle do they disagree? The Gemara answers: One Sage, Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi, holds: The air above the ground mixes the nutrients, and one Sage, Rabban Shimon ben Gamliel, holds: This part of the tree stands alone and this part of the tree stands alone. From the roots up to the branches, it is as if the tree were cut along the line of the border.
The Gemara raises a difficulty against Ulla’s opinion from a different perspective: And do roots extend sixteen cubits and no more? Didn’t we learn in a mishna (25b): One must distance a tree twenty-five cubits from a cistern? This indicates that tree roots reach more than sixteen cubits. Abaye said: The roots extend farther, but they weaken the ground only up to sixteen cubits; with regard to an area any more distant than that, they do not weaken the ground. Concerning this matter the Gemara relates that when Rav Dimi came from Eretz Yisrael he said: Reish Lakish raised a dilemma before Rabbi Yoḥanan: With regard to a tree that is within sixteen cubits of a boundary, what is the halakha? Rabbi Yoḥanan said to him: The owner is a robber, and one does not bring first fruits from it. By contrast, when Ravin came from Eretz Yisrael, he related that Rabbi Yoḥanan says: Both in the case of a tree that is close to a boundary and a tree that leans into a neighbor’s yard, one brings first fruits and recites the verses, as it was on this condition that Joshua apportioned Eretz Yisrael to the Jewish people, i.e., that they would not be particular about such matters.