"Hilbert's solution of Waring's Problem was ready to be presented in the joint seminar with Minkowski in the middle of January 1909. After Minkowski's death, Hilbert presented his solution to Göttingen Academy on 6 February 1909, dedicating it to the memory of his friend, who had done so much for number theory. From then on he missed Minkowski, but carried on the seminar with Edmund Landau, Minkowski's successor. In looking for a successor to Minkowski, Klein and Hilbert looked for a young mathematician, whose achievements were still ahead of him. This requirement ruled out Adolf Hurwitz, and the final candidates were Oskar Perron and Edmund Landau. The decision was made by Klein, who said: 'Oh, Perron is such a wonderful person. Everybody loves him. Landau is very disagreeable, very difficult to get along with. But we, being such a group as we are, it is better that we have a man who is not easy'. Landau, though a worthy successor with respect to number theory... showed no interest in geometry and even less in applied mathematics, not to speak of mathematical physics. ...Hilbert knew that in executing his plans concerning physics, he could not count on Landau."