The soil was thin and rocky which was very bad for farming. Geography lumbering, trading, shipbuilding, fishing, and whaling were all common occupations in the New England Colonies. Slavery was allowed in the New England Colonies. However, very few people had slaves. The Middle Colonies were more diverse than colonies in New England and the South. Most of the early settlers depended on the fur trade and on farming for economic survival.The Middle Colonies were settled by different nationalities so there is greater emphasis on religious toleration and cultural diversity.