The best cane for the purposes of my reed manufacture comes from the south of France. This last factor is an interesting one. This of course isn't as strange as it may seem at first, the lunar cycle having an effect on all water, it must of course have an effect on the sap in the cane. There are great demands for good quality cane not only from reed makers for the oboe, bassoon, saxophone and clarinet, but from manufacturers of cane furniture and cane fishing rods. Obtaining good cane is exceedingly difficult, being able to recognise good cane in its raw state and prior to time spent on manufacture is even more difficult and requires almost a sixth sense.
Bagpipe making like life is difficult.
Glossary Chanter - the pipe on a bagpipe on which the melody is played. Drones - the pipes on a bagpipe, which sound a constant accompanying note. Pilot hole - a hole bored in wood of a smaller diameter than the final diameter which allows the evaporation of moisture from its surfaces, thus accelerating the seasoning process.