Loam (topsoil) shall not contain stone two inches (50.8 mm) and over in diameter.

Prior to stripping, loam (topsoil) shall have demonstrated by the occurrence upon it of healthy crops, grass, or other plant growth, that it is of good quality and reasonably free draining. All testing will be at the expense of the Government. The Contractor will be reimbursed for materials he provides to improve the pH, organic matter, or other quality of the on-site loam (topsoil) when ordered by the Engineer.

713.02 Agricultural Limestone. Agricultural limestone shall be a calcic or dolomitic ground limestone containing not less than 85 percent of total (Calcium and Magnesium) carbonates. Limestone shall conform to the standards of the Association of Official Agricultural Chemists and shall comply with all existing State and Federal regulations.

Rates of application shall be shown on the plans or in the special provisions.

Limestone shall meet the following sieve analysis: At least 40 percent passing a No. 100 sieve (150 μm), and at least 95 percent passing a No. 8 sieve (2.36 mm).

Granulated slag or other approved natural sources of lime may be used, subject to approval by the Engineer of an adjusted application rate that will equal the total neutralizing power of the specified ground limestone.

713.03 Fertilizer. Fertilizer shall be a standard commercial grade fertilizer and shall conform to all State and Federal regulations, and to the standards of the Association of Official Agricultural Chemists. Commercial fertilizer shall provide the minimum percentage of available nutrients as specified. The Engineer shall take such samples that he deems necessary for testing.

Fertilizer shall be furnished in bulk or in new, clean, sealed, and properly labeled containers with name, weight, and guaranteed analysis of contents clearly marked. Fertilizer failing to meet the specified analysis may be used as determined by the Engineer providing sufficient materials are applied to comply with the specified nutrients per unit of measure without additional cost to the Government. A liquid form of fertilizer containing the minimum percentage of available nutrients may be used if and when specified.

713.04 Seed. The kinds of grass, legume, and cover-crop seed furnished shall be those stipulated in the special provisions. Seed shall conform to the requirements of Federal Specification JJJ--S-181.

Seed shall be furnished separately or in mixture in standard sealed containers with (1) seed name, (2) lot number, (3) net weight, (4) percentages of purity and of germination and hard seed, and (5) percentage of maximum weed seed content, clearly marked for each kind of seed. The Contractor shall furnish the Engineer duplicate signed copies of a statement by the vender certifying that each lot of seed has been tested by a recognized laboratory for seed testing within 6 months of date of delivery. This statement shall include: (1) name and address of

laboratory, (2) date of test, (3) lot number for each kind of seed, and (4) results of tests as to name, percentages of purity and of germination, and percentage of weed content, for each kind of seed furnished, and, in case of a mixture, the proportions of each kind of seed. Legume seed when specified in the mixture shall be inoculated with approved cultures in accordance with instructions of the manufacturer.

713.05 Mulch.

(a) Wood chips.-Wood chips shall be obtained from disease-free green hardwood, shall be inch (3.18 mm) nominal thickness, with 50 percent having an area of not less than one square inch (6.45 cm2), nor more than six square inches (38.71 cm2). All wood chip mulch shall be free from leaves, twigs, shavings, bark, or materials injurious to plant growth. The use of wood chips from elm trees will not be used under the following conditions:

(1) When state or Federal regulation prohibits such use.

(2) When the trees are diseased.

(b) Straw.-Straw for mulching shall be from oats, wheat, rye, or other approved grain crops which are free from noxious weeds, mold, or other objectionable material. Straw mulch shall be in an air-dry condition and suitable for placing with mulch blower equipment.

(c) Hay.-Hay shall be of approved herbacous mowings, free from noxious weeds, mold, or other objectionable material. Hay shall be in an air-dry condition and suitable for placing with mulch blower equip

ment.

(d) Wood cellulose fiber.-Natural or cooked wood cellulose fiber shall have the property of dispersing readily in water and shall have no toxic effect when combined with seed or other materials. The homogeneous slurry or mixture shall be capable of application with power spray equipment. A colored dye which is noninjurious to plant growth may be used when specified. Wood cellulose fiber shall be packaged in new, labeled containers, shall have an equilibrium air-dried moisture content of 12 percent plus or minus 3 percentage points at the time of manufacture, and shall have a pH range of 3.5 to 5.0.

(e) Sawdust.-Sawdust shall be obtained from wood which has not been subjected to conditions which would cause the sawdust to lose its value or usefulness as a mulch. Sawdust shall not contain any toxic substances and shall be at least 5 years old.

(f) Peat moss.-Peat moss shall be provided in bales not less than 71⁄2 cubic feet (0.212 m3) per bale compressed and 12 to 14 bushels (0.423 to 0.493 m3) loose. Peat moss shall be a granulated sphagnum peat moss nearly free from woody substances, consisting of at least 75 percent of partially decomposed stems and leaves of sphagnum and essentially brown in color. The texture may vary from porous fibrous to spongy fibrous and shall be free of sticks, stones, and mineral matter. Peat moss shall be in an air-dry condition, shall show an acid reaction of 3.5pH to 5.5pH, and shall otherwise conform to State and Federal regulation.

(g) Peat humus.-Peat humus shall be a natural peat or peat humus from fresh water saturated areas, consisting of sedge, sphagnum, or reed peat and be of such physical condition that it will pass through a 2-inch (12.50 mm) mesh screen. The humus shall be free from sticks, stones, roots, and other objectionable materials. Samples taken at the source of supply shall have the following analysis:

Acidity range: 4.0 to 7.5 pH

Minimum water absorbing ability: 200% by weight on oven-dry basis.

Minimum organic content: 60% when dried at 105° C (105 t° c) Freshly excavated peat, if saturated with water, shall be stored for a sufficient length of time to condition it for workability.

713.06 Plant Materials.

(a) Quality of plant materials.-All plants shall be first-class representatives of their normal species or varieties unless otherwise specified as "street-tree", "extra heavy", "clump", and other, of like import, according to the particular exception. Unless otherwise specified, all plants shall be nursery grown stock that has been transplanted or root-trimmed two or more times, according to the kind and size of plants. The branch system shall be normal development and free from disfiguring knots, sun-scald, injuries, abrasions of the bark, dead or dry wood, broken terminal growth, or other objectionable disfigurements. Trees shall have reasonably straight stems and shall be well branched and symmetrical in accordance with their natural habits of growth.

(b) Plant names.-All scientific and common plant names of the items specified shall conform with the edition of "Standardized Plant Names", as adopted by the American Joint Committee on Horticultural Nomenclature, that is in effect at the time of the invitation for bids. All plants delivered shall be true to name and legibly tagged with the names and sizes of materials. Should it be necessary to substitute a plant or plants of a different variety than the plant material specified, it will be necessary for the Contractor to secure approval from the Engineer for the proposed substitution prior to digging the plants. An approved substitute plant shall be of value at least equal to the specified plant for which the substitution is being made. Any substitutions necessary shall not be made until after the contract has been awarded.

(c) Grading standards.-Grading of plants shall conform to the "American Standard for Nursery Stock", as approved by the America National Standards Institute, in effect at the time of invitation for bids, and to any further requirements that may appear in the special provisions.

(d) Nursery inspection and plant quarantine.-All plants shall be free from plant diseases and insect pests. All shipments of plants shall comply with all nursery inspection and plant quarantine regulations of the States of origin and destination, as well as with Federal regulations

governing interstate movement of nursery stock. A valid copy of the certificate of inspection shall accompany each package, box, bale, or carload shipped or otherwise delivered.

(e) Balled and Burlapped plants.-B&B plants shall be dug so as to retain as may fibrous roots as possible, and shall come from soil which will form a firm ball. The soil in the ball shall be the original and undisturbed soil in which the plant has been grown. The plant shall be dug, wrapped, transported, and handled in such manner that the soil in the ball will not be so loosened that it would cause stripping of the small and fine feeding roots, or cause the soil to drop away from such roots.

(f) Inspection.-All plant materials shall be subject to inspection by the Engineer at any time during the life of the contract before or during planting operations, however, such inspection shall not be construed as final acceptance of the plants involved.

713.07 Erosion Control Net Material. All erosion control materials shall be made of new material, clean, sound, free of rips or tears, and furnished in lengths of at least 200 (60.96 m) feet.

(a) Burlap.-Burlap shall be of standard weave with a weight of 3.5 to 5.0 ounces per square yard. (0.099 to 0.142 kg per 0.836 m2).

(b) Jute mesh.-Jute mesh shall be of a uniform, plain weave with warp and weft yarns of approximately the same size. The physical requirements shall be:

Width 45" to 48", plus or minus 1 (1.14 to 1.22 m plus or minus 25.4 mm)

78 warp ends per width

41 weft ends per yard

Range in weight of cloth: 1.80 lbs. (0.816 kg) (average) per running yard with a 5% minimum tolerance to 1.22 lbs. (0.553 kg) (average) per running yard with a 5% minimum tolerance at standard atmospheric conditions.

(c) Woven paper or sisal mesh netting.-Woven paper or woven sisal mesh netting shall be woven from twisted yarns available in rolls 45 to 48 inches (1.14 to 1.22 m) wide. Mesh may vary from close to open weave, ranging from % to 4-inch (3.18 to 6.35 mm) openings. Shrinkage after wetting shall not exceed 20 percent of the surface area. 713.08 Miscellaneous.

(a) Water.-Water used in the planting or care of vegetation shall be free from oils, acids, alkalis, salts, or any substance injurious to plant life. Water from streams, lakes, ponds, or similar sources shall not be used unless approved by the Engineer.

(b) Stakes for Bracing and Anchoring.—Stakes for bracing or supporting trees shall be of rough cypress, cedar, locust, or other approved wood essentially free from knots, rot, crossgrain, or other defects that would impair the strength of the stake for which it is to be used. Stakes shall be a minimum 2 inches (50.8 mm) by 2 inches (50.8 mm) square in cross section and of adequate length. Stakes shall conform to basic requirements of the American Lumber Standards. Anchor stakes shall

conform to the same size and quality requirements for bracing stakes. Where deadmen are to be used to anchor trees, the quality requirements for other stakes shall apply. The diameter and length of deadmen shall be as shown on the plans.

(c) Hose.-Hose to be used with wire for bracing and guying trees shall be one inch (25.4 mm) in diameter. All hose shall be new garden or steamhose (rubber and fabric).

(d) Wire.-Wire used to guy trees shall be new soft annealed galvanized steel wire. Trees three inches (76.2 mm) or less shall be guyed with No. 9 (3.9 mm diameter) wire, and trees over three inches (76.2 mm) in diameter shall be guyed with No. 9 (3.9 mm diameter) wire.

(e) Wrapping material.—Wrapping material for trees shall be an approved waterproof paper triple lamination 30-30-30 in four-inch (101.6 mm) wide rolls, or an approved burlap in six-inch (152.4 mm) wide rolls.

(f) Twine.-Twine used for tying wrapping on trees shall be of approved quality. Two-ply twine shall be used for trees three inches (76.2 mm) and less in diameter, and three-ply twine for trees over three inches (76.2 mm) in diameter.

(g) Antidesiccant.-Antidesiccant shall be an approved emulsion which will provide a film over plant surfaces permeable enough to permit transpiration. Antidesiccant shall be used only after approval by the Engineer.

(h) Tree wound dressing.—Dressing for treating tree wounds or cuts shall be:

(1) an approved black asphaltum base antiseptic paint,

(2) an approved black paint consisting of Bordeaux mixture, raw linseed oil, and lamp black, or

(3) an approved black paint consisting of zinc oxide, raw linseed oil, and lamp black.

713.09 Sprigs. Sprigs shall be healthy living stems (stolons or rhizomes) with attached roots of perennial turf-forming grasses of the kinds shown on the plans, harvested without adhering soil, and obtained from approved sources in the locality of the work where the sod is heavy and thickly matted. The presence of Johnson grass or other objectionable grasses, weeds, or other detrimental material will be cause for rejection. Stolons incorporated in the work shall not exceed 6 inches (152.4 mm) in length.

713.10 Sod. Sod shall be a living vigorous growth, predominantly of the grass and thickness specified in the special provisions, having a dense root system contained in suitable sod and reasonably free from noxious weeds and grasses. When the sod is cut, its top growth shall not be more than 3 inches (76.2 mm) in height. Sod will be inspected by the Engineer at the source, and none shall be cut without his approval.

713.11 Pegs for Sod. Pegs shall be of sound wood, at least 8 inches (203.2 mm) long, roughly square or round, and have a cross sectional area of approximately 1 square inch (6.45 cm2). 714.-Reserved.