is there any way to make it last longer? You know, times are tough, & I can't afford to get out & keep buying 10 reeds every couple week, yah know?
So, is there a trick?
Btw. I know that one it's cracked, it's done.

http://www.8notes.com/F/28_172277.asp

soak it in water, not saliva. The saliva breaks down the reed as it does food in your mouth. Also, once a reed is cracked, that doesn't mean its always done. If the crack is small and at the tip, you can take a reed knife or razor blade and cut that part of the tip off, then shave the reed so that it is to the same strength as the reed was before you cut the tip. If it is larger, try tape! I know, crazy, but I have had many a reed that worked fine after taping the crack closed!

I'm still using some of the reeds I bought back in the late 1960s. Rotate them, don't put them away soaking wet, and keep them in a nice reed case so they don't get banged up. I haven't tried repairing cane reeds, but I have an old Renaud plastic reed from many years ago that developed cracks on both sides. Five minutes with some superglue, and it plays nicer than any of my cane reeds. Who woulda thunk...