In a field experiment where Proctor barley yielded slightly more grain than Plumage Archer but had similar total dry weight, the dry-weight ratio of ear to shoot was greater for Plumage Archer than for Proctor at ear emergence and greater for Proctor at maturity, as in a previous pot experiment. When ears were shaded, the ear: shoot dry-weight ratio at maturity of Proctor was not significantly greater than that of Plumage Archer. The varietal difference in ear: shoot ratio was reversed because ears of Proctor had a greater relative growth-rate than ears of Plumage Archer, apparently because they photosynthesized more. Proctor shoots decreased in weight slightly less than shoots of Plumage Archer.