and along with the milk , the children as they grew drank essie 's tales : of the knockers and the blue-caps who live down the mines ; of the bucca , the trickiest spirit of the land , much more dangerous than the redheaded , snub-nosed piskies , for whom the first fish of the catch was always left upon the shingle , and for whom a fresh-baked loaf of bread was left in the field , at reaping time , to ensure a fine harvest ; she told them of the apple-tree men-old apple trees who talked when they had a mind , and who needed to be placated with the first cider of the crop , which was poured onto their roots as the year turned , if they were to give you a fine crop for the next year .