'Rare Tree Found In Newfoundland' Scientists at the Memorial University and the Kentville Agricultural Research Station in Nova Scotia have finally gone public with the identification of a rare tree found in an undisclosed Trinity Bay area of Newfoundland last August. A photographer walking through a farm field came upon a seven foot tall yellowish colored wooden tree at that time. No buds, branches or blooms existed on the tree. Actually it had no bark, just a smooth wood-like surface. The finder notified the Department of Agriculture, the area was cordoned off and the researchers worked to identify the rarity. Specimens were taken to St. John’s laboratories and all tests remained inconclusive. It was a plant not native to Newfoundland. The area was not disclosed to prevent it being disturbed should any seedlings appear. The tree was actually on private land anyway. Interviews with the landowner yielded no information that could help solve the mystery. He said he noticed this thing had been growing but thought of it as a fungus or mold, never touched it and did not realize it had such a hard shell. But as time went on he reported that the thing took on the shape of a cactus. Asked how he felt about being such a celebrity to have this found in his wood lot the farmer said "Well, it’s been a slice I tell ya!" Nothing further could be reported until the analysis was finished by the laboratories. Late in the fall the botanist cut a limb of the cactus like tree and found a strange waxy substance lining the limb and a reddish material growing inside the whole covering of wood and wax. The Kentville Agricultural Station studied the information over the winter to try to finalize their data and come up with a credible explanation for what this tree could be, or how it came to spring from nowhere in Newfoundland. Last Monday Memorial University and the Nova Scotia researchers announced their findings. It appears that this strange plant is a Wild Bologna Plant. When matured another limb was cut and a large stick of bologna covered in the waxy substance confirmed their findings. Strange colors were found on some of the fruit and looked vaguely like writing of some sort. They also noticed a great deal of little ketchup packets starting to sprout on the ‘bologna’ fruit. For years the bologna packers have kept their secret just as well as the secret of the popular chickens’ eleven different herbs and spices has been kept. The explanation offered by growers is that the only conceivable reason or way that this plant could grow in Newfoundland is that a seedling arrived in a shipment of bologna and found its’ way to a place where it took root. Because it remained undisturbed it flourished and grew to be so large. This special Newfoundland find is the biggest land find since Voiseys’ Bay in the province. Talks are being held between the government and the owners of Sprung Greenhouses this spring to develop a complex farming plan for the bologna and the cucumbers together in the Trinity Bay area. This should provide jobs for as many as four people. As you can see in the photo the tree does have the look of a cactus, and the limbs the shape of the bologna stick. A local farmer was questioned as to what his thoughts were and he just said "Aw, Baloney!" Because it has been finally identified and it is so close to the anniversary of Confederation, the special ‘bologna’ fruit is to be name the ‘Confederation Bologna of Newfoundland’. Talks resume after Easter and further reporting will be done at that time. Reporting from Trinity Bay, NL A.P. Rifool. AKA-Bonnie Jarvis-Lowe   Submitted By: Bonnie Jarvis-Lowe