1.   Abundant spring rains.

2.   I found it quite wondrous, because in earlier years the same shrubs had sailed through unremitting spring rains.

3.   Isolated and fearful of the consequences of coming out of hiding, they are struggling against food shortages and frigid spring rains.

4.   Nebraska wheat farmers depend on fall and spring rains to build up moisture in the soil.

5.   Spring rains in the Mississippi Delta cut cotton planting, for example.

6.   When spring rains are inadequate, water deeply to encourage strong root growth.

7.   Jim Salinger of the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research said Thursday Aucklanders could not count on winter or spring rains to bail them out of the crisis.