How did farming in the Northeast differ from that in the South?

Farms in the northeast tended to be small, and crops were rarely transported more than a few miles from their place of origin. The soil in the region is extremely rocky, a holdover from the last ice age. In New England, farmers would spend the first week of the new season dragging out rocks turned over in the first plowing of the season, which starts in early May.

On the other hand, due to their vast size, southern farms were often referred to as plantations. Unlike the multi-crop farms found in the north, southern farms tended to focus on a single crop, with cotton and tobacco being the main crops. Southern farmers benefit from a longer growing season that allows for multiple harvest dates and a wide variety of crops. Furthermore, they could grow many crops that would not grow well in the north, such as oranges and lemons.

Farming in the Northeast differed from that in the South primarily due to geographical, climatic, and economic factors. In the Northeast, the terrain was more rocky and hilly, making large-scale plantation farming impractical. Instead, small-scale family farms were more common, focusing on crops such as wheat, barley, oats, and vegetables. The climate in the Northeast was also cooler, with shorter growing seasons, influencing crop choices and farming techniques.

In contrast, the South had a warmer climate and fertile soil, particularly in the coastal plains and river valleys. This allowed for the cultivation of cash crops such as cotton, tobacco, rice, and indigo on large plantations. The plantation system relied heavily on slave labor, which was not as prevalent in the Northeast where farms were smaller and more diversified.

Economically, farming in the South was oriented towards export crops destined for markets in Europe and the Northern states, while farming in the Northeast was more focused on supplying local markets and subsistence farming for the family. Additionally, the South's reliance on cash crops tied its economy closely to fluctuations in international markets, while the Northeast's more diversified economy provided some insulation from such volatility.