An experiment that year was one of transplanting carrots between rows of corn and it was not successful.
He worked hard in these years, but, as many another industrious farmer has discovered, he found that he could do little unless nature smiled and fickle nature persisted in frowning.

In 1785 the rain seemed to forget how to fall, and in 1786 how to stop falling.

Some crops failed or were very short and soon he was so hard up that he was anxious to sell some lands or negroes to meet debts coming due.

In February, 1786, in sending fifteen guineas to his mother, he wrote: "I have now demands upon me for more than L500, three hundred and forty odd of which is due for the tax of 1786; and I know not where or when I shall receive one shilling with which to pay it.

In the last two years I made no crops.