LESSON XXXII.
1. Surface.—Along the ocean the land of these states is level. Some distance from the seashore it begins to rise, and we find ourselves at first among hills, then among mountains.
We rise higher and higher until we reach at last the tops of the Blue Ridge and Allegheny ranges. In New York are the Catskill and the Adirondack groups, famous as summer resorts for people from the cities.
The level land along the ocean is a part of the Atlantic coastal plain, and the hills that rise from it belong to the Piedmont plateau region. The mountain ranges are part of the great Appalachian system, which extends on southward, and are the watershed. Going down the western slope of the mountains, we reach another plateau and descend to the Central plain, which borders Lakes Erie and Ontario.
2. Rivers—Many rivers flow through these states, some into the Atlantic ocean, others into
James river and Blue Ridge mountains, Va.
the Ohio river. The most important are the Hudson, Delaware, Potomac, and the James.
Several rivers that flow into the Atlantic have cut gaps in the mountains called water gaps. The scenery about them is very beautiful. The most remarkable are those of the Hudson at West Point, the Delaware at Delaware Water Gap, and the Potomac at Harper's Ferry.
3. Climate.—In the northern portions of these states, the climate is very much like that of New England. In winter the snow is often very deep.
As we go farther south, the climate becomes milder, and along the Atlantic coast in the southern part of Virginia snow is seldom seen.
Delaware Water Gap, Pa.
4. Farm Products.—Farming is a more important industry in the Middle Atlantic states than in New England.
The principal crops are hay, potatoes, oats, wheat, corn, and buckwheat. These grow in all the states.
Maryland and Virginia are noted for tobacco.
New Jersey, Maryland, and Delaware are famed for their peaches and strawberries.
Many farmers have large peach orchards, from which they send thousands of baskets of peaches every season to New York and Philadelphia.
New Jersey is a great market garden.
As we pass through the state, we see vegetables cultivated everywhere. They are grown for the markets of New York, Philadelphia, and the neighboring cities.
The market gardens near Norfolk, Virginia, also supply the northern markets with early vegetables.
New York and Pennsylvania are especially noted for cattle, butter and cheese, hay, grain, potatoes and orchard fruits.
For Recitation.—What mountain ranges cross the Middle Atlantic states? What mountains are in New York? What are the most, important rivers of this section? What are the principal farm products of the Middle Atlantic states? For what crop is Virginia noted? For what crops are New Jersey, Delaware, and Maryland famed? What states are noted for grazing products?
