Hen american colonists dreamed of their ideal land, they were probably dreaming of the middle colonies: pennsylvania, delaware, new york, and new jersey. in these four colonies there were long, navigable rivers and rich soils. the sun was bright, the temperature moderate, the growing season long. the typical farm in the middle colonies was 200 acres, of which, perhaps one-half was cleared and planted. the farmers grew vegetables and fruit, but their major crop was grain: wheat, barley, oats, rye, and corn. even with the poor tools and the wasteful techniques of colonial agriculture, pennsylvania farmers could produce a surplus. thus the middle-colony farmers were not just self-sufficient; they were commercial farmers. their colonies were nicknamed the "bread colonies" because of all the grain they sold each year to other english colonies and to europe. 11) the above passage mainly explains a. the struggles of american colonists b. farming techniques of american colonists c. the typical farmland and farming conditions of the colonies d. immigrants moving to the american colonies