256 TRAINING THE TROTTING HORSE. 



has not been very satisfactory. It does very well for 

 brood-mares and youngsters ; but it is a washy grass 

 and affects the kidneys of horses in training. At least 

 such has been my experience. Alfierilla, commonly 

 called "filaree" is a rank-growing grass that horses 

 are very fond of, and that I consider far preferable to 

 alfalfa for turf horses. The natural wild-oat of Cali- 

 fornia provides excellent forage, and the animals take 

 much to burr-clover after it is ripe and dry. The 

 natural herbs of California afford forage of the richest 

 and most nutritious kind, and for ordinary horse ranch- 

 ing nocountrv can rival it — but for breedino^ and train- 

 ing horses for the turf I am somewhat skeptical as to 

 our advantages over '' the blue-grass region." 



