Farming-13 American Colonies
Farming in
the 13 American Colonies
Farming
in colonial differed in
many ways from farming today. The most significant difference was in what crops
were grown where.
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Farmers
in the New England Colonies had a rough time of it. Much of the soil wasn't
good for growing crops, especially near the ocean. Also, the early and
long-lasting winters killed many crops quickly. Still,
New England farmers
often grew enough food to feed their families and maybe even help feed other
families. The main kind of food New Englanders contributed to the economy was
fish.
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Farmers
in the Middle Colonies were the most prosperous of all. They grew wheat,
barley, oats, rye, and corn. The Middle Colonies were often called the
"breadbasket" because they grew so much f
ood.
Wheat could be ground to make flour, and both wheat and flour could be sold in
other colonies or in
Europe.
-
Farmers
in the Southern Colonies grew several things. The most popular crop was
tobacco. The
Jamestown colonists had grown tobacco originally, and tobacco farms sprung up
all o
ver Virginia and North
Carolina. The two southernmost states (South
Carolina and
Georgia) also grew indigo and rice.
Farm
equipment was also different. Colonial farmers didn't have the large machines
that today's farmers have and so had to rely on manpower and animal power.
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