code: function(ticks) {
              var key, firstTick;
  
              // iterate over the ticks, keep track of the lowest 'pos' value
              for(key in ticks) {
                  if(ticks.hasOwnProperty(key)) {
                      if(!firstTick || ticks[key].pos < firstTick.pos) {
                          firstTick = ticks[key];
                      }
                  }
              }
              return firstTick;
          }
docs: ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// some reusable methods for dealing with the HighCharts ticks object