His chief source of income, which provided him with ready money, was the tobacco crop, which proved to be of uncertain value.

By Washington's time the Virginians had much diminished the amount and delicacy of the tobacco they raised by the careless methods they employed.

They paid little attention to the rotation of crops, or to manuring, with the result that the soil was never properly replenished.

In his earlier days Washington shipped his year's product to an agent in Glasgow or in London, who sold it at the market price and sent him the proceeds.

The process of transportation was sometimes precarious; a leaky ship might let in enough sea water to damage the tobacco, and there was always the risk of loss by shipwreck or other accident.