rsync --include-from syntax

I'm putting together a backup scenario using rsync.
I'm setting it up so I can have cron run a shell script containing an rsync command every night against a list of servers in a separate file and using an include from list in another separate file.
Almost working...
My current issue is that my include-from file currently looks like this:
+ etc/***
+ home/***
+ var/www/***
+ var/spool/mail/***
+ var/lib/mysql/***
+ opt/IBM/***
+ root/***
- *
When the script runs it does not indicate any error, but only syncs etc, home, and root. Anything with a path deeper than one folder is ignored.
I'm sure my syntax must be wrong. Any thoughts?