Effects of climate on cane quality

[AntHill]

I know I have talked about this a few times already, but I wonder what the quality of the cane from other parts of the U.S. is like.

I know that in California some reedmakers keep cane fields there, so the quality of the cane from there must be top-notch.

Here in Florida it is often hot and humid, plus in the wet season it rains profusely. I doubt that this would make for good quality cane after all the drying and everything else is done. But, of course, I yet have to actually run a business specializing in reed cane.

How much of an effect does climate have on quality of cane for musical uses? Does it have an effect? Or it does not matter where the cane is grown; quality is the same from bundle to bundle?

Any and all expert opinion is welcome.

[Mark Meckes]

Hi AntHill,
I first grew perennial grasses and bamboos in NE Pennsylvania, then moved to central Texas, so I certainly noticed the affect climate can have on same plant species.
Weather patterns changing from year to year certainly affects the growth cycle of these perennial plants.
We've got drought conditions here now, going from summer '05 through autumn and winter..
Maybe some of our maturing bamboo will become a special vintage harvest crop, because of the added drying hardening and tempering that nature bestowed ... and maybe younger culms that were most affected by the drought will die at a younger age and be lower quality ...

This is pure speculation... and a suggestion that what a cane becomes is the result of events and conditions going back to some years preceeding it's emergence ... and that growing conditions during the first year of a culms life can positively or negatively affect it's future outculm ;)

Another thing is local micro climates or man-made growing conditions affecting a plants growth, especially in respect to irrigation, drainage easements, water availability ..

For example, as one would expect, our bamboo that is growing at the top of a steep hill where it receives little runnoff is shorter, feels tougher, more gnarly, but at another part where our roof and yard runnoff goes to, it grows 2-3 times the size.
It would be interesting to get hold of a microscope and compare differences close up...

Enough rambling, as I know your question is in special reference to Arundo donax.
20 something years ago this plant was a most exciting new addition to my then northern (sub-zero F winter) garden.
As a plant ... WOW --- As a material ... Bamboo won out ... Certain species of boo grew better quality material then donax, despite the NE PA climate.

I'll dig up some pics of Arundo from back then, and put them in Arundo donax Gallery (http://www.bamboocraft.net/bamboo/showgallery.php?cat=572)

Mark