Effects of Cutting First Year Red Clover on Stand and Yield in the Second Year 1

^PRING seedings of red clover (Trr pratense L.) ' often produce abundant growth the first year. Under good growing conditions, the plants may reach a height of 18 to 20 inches and many of them bloom by the middle of September. Numerous inquiries have been received concerning the advisability of mowing such fields prior to the first winter. Studies at Ohio (3, 4, 5) have shown that early cutting may be beneficial but that late cutting usually is detrimental. No such studies have been reported in the United States for areas as far north as Wisconsin. Willard (3) found that cutting red clover from Aug. 15 to Sept. 1 in the seedling year increased hay yields the next year as compared with fields that were not cut, but that cutting from Oct. 15 to Nov. 1 was usually injurious. Willard (4) and Willard and Lewis (5) reportel that leaving combined straw on the field always resulted .in obvious damage to red clover stands, but that cutting the stubble immediately after combining and removing the straw, hay, and weeds never resulted in damage. They further found that it was decidedly better to mow the grain stubble soon after combining and leave it on the field than not to cut it at all. This practice, however, was not as beneficial as removing all material after cutting. Alien (1) reported that clipping red clover in Maryland from mid-August to early September during the seedling year gave better stands and higher yields the second year than when not clipped. Removal of the