Hi,
I was recently told that varigated A. Donax is more suitable than non-var. A. Donax as the former grows more vigorously than the latter. Is this true. Would faster growing cane produce softer cane?
Cheers,
DavidG
It sounds reasonable that a faster growing cane would be less dense. But who made this recommendation to you - a gardener or a reed maker?
djm
a weed maker? 
(where’s Joe? 
)
djm
Here I am. To be honest, I have heard the opposite, but I am not convinced either is true. I have both varieties curing in the Florida sun, and samples that I have taken from each would suggest that they are equal in density and softness.
I am of the opinion that the softness of any particular variety of Arundo Donax is chiefly due to the soil it grows in and the amount of water it receives throughout its life cycle. The stuff I have been harvesting has mostly come from soil that is rich in calcium from the fossilized sea life that it grows in… I often dig up fossils of shells and sharks teeth when I harvest rhizomes for transplanting.
But honestly, I cannot say with any certainty that my thoughts regarding this are sound.
We think that the cane grow beside a river (water) will be better for the chanter and reg’s reed.
I use to live in South of France. In fact, I use to live in the cane contry side. I have cane but sadly, I am still not able to do my double reed.
I have good experience with the single reed. I use to use the cane grow behind the University of Nice. It works!!! May be the student knowledge affect positively the cane over there?
I hop that my English will be good enough!
All the best,
Sylvain
Sylvain, votre Anglais c’est tres bon. Good to hear your single reeds worked out well. I’m attempting to start making the double reeds myself, I suppose practice makes perfect.
On topic now. Oddly enough, all the cane around where I live doesn’t grow around any visible water source at all. Nor is the ground particularly sandy, rather it is quite dry. I wonder if that would have any effect on the quality of the cane?
Great if my English is good enough I will try to go up. Did you try double reed with your cane?
Oddly enough, a pipemaker. I’m just wondering if he got it round the wrong way. I’ll confirm with him again when I next speak to him.
Cheers,
DavidG