Restrictive economic conditions and increased knowledge have led foresters to question traditional spacing of forest trees and to conduct research that would test their assumptions. Numerous studies have confirmed that when forest trees are widely spaced, the branches, crowns, and stems are larger. Although the stem form of all trees is changed, the height of conifers may be little affected. An immediate economic benefit is derived from lower planting and precommercial thinning costs. Later, although early stand basal area and volume growth may be reduced by wide spacing, more rapid growth of individual stems can produce more merchantable volume, a shorter rotation, reduced logging costs, and better financial returns.