Maybe the following will help clarify the distinction.
William Nelson wrote that his son Hugh converted one of his plantations to a 
farm for growing provisions instead of tobacco. John Adams wrote in Feb. 1777: "The
Planters are those who raise Tobacco and the Farmers such as raise Wheat
&c." This distinction seems to have been normal in 18th century Virginia.
After all Nelson and Adams were there.
HBG

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