The hope is that the rice might rely on the moistening of spring rains to grow tall. Also during the Grain Rains, "Hoopoes descend on mulberries." Hoopoes, birds of the family Upupidae, at this time rest on the branches of mulberry trees, and this is a reminder for farming wives to gather up mulberry branches in preparation for raising silkworms.
譬如「谷雨」，顧名思義，就是「雨生百谷」，希望田裡的秧苗能藉著春雨滋潤茁壯；同時谷雨時節，「戴任降於桑」，戴任鳥兒會棲息在桑樹上，也是提醒農婦準備採桑育蠶了。