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In the Linares area of Spain, fig trees are often found at shaft heads and engine houses. Maybe though this was the miners planting something to eat? Also a bit off-topic, in the Burren area of NW Co Clare, there is a particular plant that grows naturally at cave entrances, so much so that if you see it and there is no hole there, it's worth digging there. The plant is referred to as a speleodendron, but I'm not sure what its proper name is. Cheers Roger ----- Original Message ----- From: "Rick Stewart, Morwellham Quay Mine Manager" <[log in to unmask]> To: <[log in to unmask]> Sent: Monday, January 26, 2009 12:35 PM Subject: [MINING-HISTORY] Matters vegetable Yesterday whilst leading a walk at Devon Great Consols I made mention of the practice of planting holy bushes to mark shafts and the belief that this was meant to keep the devil in his proper place. One of the people on the walk suggested that in addition to planting holy bushes miners, on abandoning a working would plant specific plants in the vicinity of a lode to let future generations of miners know what was there, different plants being used to indicate different minerals. Can anyone expand on this. Rick Stewart