The correct comparison is:
The economy of the Southern colonies relied on growing cash crops, while the economy of the New England colonies relied on trade.
In the Southern colonies, agriculture was the primary economic activity, with cash crops such as tobacco, rice, and indigo being cultivated extensively. In contrast, the New England colonies had a more diverse economy that included trade, fishing, shipbuilding, and small-scale farming, focusing less on cash crops due to the region's colder climate and rocky soil.