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270 OBITUARY OF FREDERICK SCHEER.
About this time, Mr. Scheer had oue of the largest collections of Cacti
in Europe, and was iu frequent communication with Pfeiffer, Fred.
Otto, and Prince Salm-Dyck, the leading authorities on that subject.
His collection was extremely rich in Mexican species, chiefly obtained
from Mr. J. Potts. Only a small portion of these were ever described,
either by Prince Salm-Dyck or (very reluctantly) by Mr. Scheer himself
in Seemaun's 'Botany of H.M.S. Herald;' the greater number, how-
ever, were subsequently lost during Mr. Scheer's removal from Kew.
Several new plants, received from his numerous correspondents abroad,
were described and figured by Sir William Hooker, Dr. Lindley. and
myself. Amongst his Mexican Gesneracece I found a new genus
{Scheeria), which I dedicated to him in the ' Botanical Magazine,' and
of which at present two species, both cultivated as ornamental hot-
house plants, are known. After losing the bulk of his Cacteae, Mr.
Scheer took up Ferns, which he studied attentively ; and it was he
who suggested to me the plan of the ' British Ferns at One View
(Van Voorst). His great power of combination, coupled with his
varied and profound knowledge, gave him an almost prophetic insight
into the future, and this was much appreciated by great City firms,
who frequently asked his advice on momentous questions of the day.
In look he much resembled Beethoven, whose compositions he could
play exquisitely. He was a raan of remarkable energy, who never had
any serious illness during the whole of his life. On the day he died
he had been all day in the City, came home, and instead of going after
dinner, as usual, to his greenhouse to look at his plants, he Avent to
bed. An hour afterwards he expired, evidently without pain or suf-
fering. His only son died a few years ago ; his wife survives him.
He was a high-principled, unselfish man, a warm friend, ardently de-
voted to science, and an uncompromising opponent of all sham, whe-
ther it appeared in a religious, political, or scientific garb.
^ B. Seemann.
SmitJi (late Curator of Kew) and Mr. Robert Heward, F.L.S., who concocted a
letter which appeared in the 'Times,' and led to questions being asked in
Parliament.
'