I guess its just that way in science nowadays. Its hard to get research money for human medical research anymore (my husband can attest to that, he ran a research lab for years and grants are always hard to come by unless you are researching a 'popular' disease). Funding doesn't come out of the air, so botany is probably low on the list of things universities and other funding bodies are supporting especially for plant classes that are not hugely popular for the ornamental market
