UNIT 10
AGRICULTURE IN NEW JERSEY
Grade 4: SOCIAL STUDIES:
STUDY GUIDES

 

1. Over the past 200 years (1685-1985) has the amount of farmland in New Jersey increased or decreased? (Circle the correct answer) (Pages 172-173)

2. Why are farmers tempted to sell their farms? (Pages 172-173)

Each year thousands of farm acres are sold for high prices to builders who put up office buildings or homes.

3. What is the most important difference between today's farms and those of colonial New Jersey? (Pages 174-175)

"All-purpose," or "self-contained," farms - where farmers grew everything they required - have disappeared. Today's farmers specialize in only one or two types of products for marketing.

4. To be successful, farmers must be willing to make changes in what they grow and how they grow it. (Pages 174-175)

5. What is a dairy farm? In which counties of New Jersey do we find them? (Pages 176-177)

A dairy farm is one that specializes in milk production.
New Jersey's leading milk production counties (1984) are:
1. Warren
2. Sussex
3. Salem
4. Hunterdon
5. Burlington.

6. Today, a dairy cow gives (more, less) milk than in the past. (Circle the correct answer) (Pages 176-177)

7. Give two reasons why the number of chicken farms has declined in New Jersey. (Pages 176-177)

Prices fell very low:
1. Many chicken farms were sold to housing developers
2. Doctors have said that eating too many eggs might cause a buildup of cholesterol and lead to blood circulation problems.

8. What is "agribusiness"? (Pages 176-177)

Agribusiness is a farming business that combines the skills of farmers, processors, and sellers.

9. Describe the "Law of Supply and Demand." (Classroom presentation)

The "Law of Supply and Demand" is an economic principle that says: As the demand for a product goes up, the price will also go up.

10. List 10 New Jersey fruits. (Pages 178-179)

cranberries honey dew blackberries
cantaloupe strawberries raspberries
apples blueberries pumpkins
tomatoes plums currants
grapes watermelons boysenberries
cherries peaches pears
quinces bayberries apricots
gooseberries    

11. What two fruits are specialties of the Pine Barrens? (Pages 178-179)

Blueberries are grown in Southern New Jersey and cranberries are grown in the bogs of the Pine Barrens.

12. List 10 New Jersey vegetables. (Pages 180-181)

asparagus peppers onions
sweet corn eggplant broccoli
tomatoes escarole lettuce
squash sweet potatoes beets
white potatoes cucumbers lima beans
cabbage carrots green beans
beans spinach zucchini
celery kidney beans peas
yams cauliflower mushrooms
turnips radishes artichoke
brussel sprouts watercress  


13. What is New Jersey's most important vegetable crop? What ranks second? (Pages 180-181)

Sweet corn is the state's most valuable vegetable crop. Tomatoes rank second.

14. Today, most New Jersey farmers sell their vegetables at fresh markets. In the past a large amount of vegetables were sold to canning factories and freezing plants . (Pages 180-181)

15. What is "irrigation" and how is it important to vegetable farming? (Pages 180-181)

Irrigation occurs when water is brought to farm fields by pipes, ditches or canals. This allows fields to get a proper amount of water during dry weather.

16. List 5 breeds of horses raised in New Jersey. (Pages 182-183)
Thoroughbred Standardbred Appaloosa
American Saddlebred Palomino Arabian
Half Arabian Morgan Pinto
Crossbred Pony Paint Horse Welsh Pony
American Quarter Horse Shetland Pony  
New Jersey Bred Hunter Trotting Bred Pony  


17. The number of horses in New Jersey today is more than in the past. (Pages 182-183)

18. For what two reasons are horses raised on today's farms? (Pages 182-183)

Horses are raised in New Jersey for pleasure riding and racing.

19. What is an "ornamental"? What is a "nursery"? (Pages 184-185)

An "ornamental" is a plant used to decorate the property of a home or business.
A "nursery" is a farm where plants and trees are raised for sale.
20. How is it possible for flower growers to produce flowers year-round? List 5 flowers grown in New Jersey year-round. (Pages 184-185)

Many New Jersey flowers are grown in heated "greenhouses".

Flowers:
chrysanthemums geraniums poinsettias
roses orchids carnations

Ornamentals:
Rhododendrons azaleas yews
junipers American holly sod


21. Why are bees very important to the state's fruit and flower farmers? (Pages 184-185)

Without bees, blossoms cannot make fruit. The bees help pollinate the flowers.

22. Name three important aids that are used on today's farms, and were not found on colonial farms. (Pages 186-187)

Machines - farms have become increasingly mechanized.
Scientists and research - to improve plants and harvests.
Computers - used to keep track of information and in some cases to run operations.

 

 

Other Resources:

 

New Jersey Department of Agriculture

New Jersey Museum of Agriculture

Rutgers Cooperative Extension

New Jersey 4-H Program

United States Department of Agriculture

History of American Agriculture

The History of American and World Agriculture

The New Jersey Tomato Championship

Growing Cranberries in New Jersey

The Blueberry Industry in New Jersey

 

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