Answer: The New England and Middle Regions, despite their soil making agriculture difficult, had much more diverse economies than the south which was dominated by plantations growing tobacco and other cash crops. The New England colonies were defined by the rocky soil of their environment that was not suitable for plantation farming and instead depended on fishing, lumber, shipbuilding, etc;. The Middle Colonies were the most diverse. Farming was present, but mainly grains and oats. Also important to the Middle Colonies was papermaking, textiles, and logging.