---
title: Potatoes - the Nation's Iron Ration (Make Sure of a Full Plate)
url: https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/uk-potatoes-nations-iron-ration-1939/
description: A photograph shows men and women in work clothes lifting potatoes beside a cart, one man smiling at the camera.
section: Collection
---

1. [Home](https://propagandaarchive.org/)
2. [Collection](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/)
3. Potatoes - the Nation's Iron Ration (Make Sure of a Full Plate)

[![Potatoes - the Nation's Iron Ration, 1939 UK poster: A photograph shows men and women in work clothes lifting potatoes beside](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/images/uk-potatoes-nations-iron-ration-1939.jpg)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/images/uk-potatoes-nations-iron-ration-1939.jpg)

# Potatoes - the Nation's Iron Ration (Make Sure of a Full Plate)

A photograph shows men and women in work clothes lifting potatoes beside a cart, one man smiling at the camera, under a scroll reading 'Potatoes - the nation's iron ration. A record crop is being grown now. Help to gather it in'. Ordinary smiling volunteers stand in for the viewer (plain folks), and the military term 'iron ration' frames the crop as a national reserve.

## Propaganda techniques used in this poster

[Plain folks](https://propagandaarchive.org/techniques/plain-folks/)

## Text on the object

Original (English) · read from the image, not independently checked

```
Potatoes - the nation's iron ration. A record crop is being grown now. Help to gather it in

MAKE SURE OF A FULL PLATE

PRINTED FOR H.M. STATIONERY OFFICE BY MULTI MACHINE PLATES LTD. LONDON E.C.4. 51-3638
```

[← Post Office Telegraphists at War Work - Telegraph Less](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/uk-post-office-telegraphists-telegraph-less-1939/) [Private Scrap builds a bomber (exhibition) →](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/uk-private-scrap-builds-a-bomber-exhibition-1939/)

## More propaganda examples that use the same techniques

- [Trois Tetes sous l'meme bonnet (three heads under the same cap)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/trois-tetes-sous-le-meme-bonnet-1789/) (France · 1789 · Plain folks, Glittering generalities)
- ['This log cabin was the first building erected on the North Bend', Whig print by T. Sinclair, 1840](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/harrison-north-bend-log-cabin-sinclair-1840/) (United States · 1840 · Plain folks, Transfer)
- [Treeing Coons (pro-Polk cartoon), 1844](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/treeing-coons-polk-1844/) (United States · 1844 · Name-calling, Plain folks)
- [Zachary Taylor, People's Candidate for President (Currier banner), 1848](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/taylor-fillmore-peoples-candidate-1848/) (United States · 1848 · Plain folks, Glittering generalities)
- ['Little Mac.' (from the Democratic presidential campaign songster)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/little-mac-song-sheet-feeks-1864/) (United States · 1864 · Bandwagon, Plain folks)
- [The peoples' choice, H. Greeley G. Brown](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/peoples-choice-greeley-brown-1872/) (United States · 1872 · Bandwagon, Plain folks)
- [The working-man's banner. For President, Ulysses S. Grant, 'The Galena Tanner.' For Vice-President, Henry Wilson, 'The Natick Shoemaker.'](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/working-mans-banner-grant-1872/) (United States · 1872 · Plain folks, Transfer)
- [The Chappaqua farmer](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/chappaqua-farmer-1872/) (United States · Jul 1872 · Plain folks, Glittering generalities)