But Europe did have a strong craving for the weed and, almost of necessity, Virginians set themselves to satisfying it.

They could hardly be expected to do otherwise when a pound of tobacco would often bring in England more than a bushel of wheat, while it cost only a sixtieth part as much to send it thither.

It is estimated that prior to the Revolution Virginia often sent out annually as much as ninety-six thousand hogsheads of tobacco.
Tobacco took the place of money, and debts, taxes and even ministers' salaries were paid in it.
The disadvantages of tobacco culture are well known.

Of all crops it is perhaps the most exhausting to the soil, nor was a large part of Virginia particularly fertile to begin with.

Much land was speedily ruined, but nothing was so cheap and plentiful in that day as land, so the planter light-heartedly cleared more and let the old revert to the wilderness.