Which group primarily represented smaller scale agricultural practices in North Carolina?

The correct answer identifies tobacco farmers as the group that primarily represented smaller-scale agricultural practices in North Carolina. During the colonial period, tobacco became a staple cash crop in North Carolina, particularly after George Fox's introduction of the crop in the 17th century. The climate and soil conditions in North Carolina were favorable for tobacco cultivation, allowing for widespread farming throughout the region.

Many North Carolina tobacco farmers operated on a smaller scale compared to the large plantations seen in Virginia and other southern colonies. These smaller farmers often engaged in subsistence farming alongside the production of tobacco, which contributed to the local economy. This diversification of agriculture allowed them to sustain their families while participating in the lucrative tobacco market.

The other agricultural practices mentioned, while important to various regions, do not fit the context of smaller scale operations in North Carolina. Cotton farming became more prominent later with the invention of the cotton gin, rice cultivation was more characteristic of the low-country areas in South Carolina and Georgia, and wheat cultivation was typically spread across different areas, but not as central in North Carolina compared to tobacco. Thus, tobacco farming more accurately represents the smaller-scale agricultural practices in the context of North Carolina during that era.