I don't understand what a Granary does

[botski]

Back in Civ 2 (the last Civ that sucked the life out of me ) I recall a granary lets you grow the city past a certain size.

In Civ 4, it is defined as:

Stores 50% of food after growth
+1 health from Corn, Rice, Wheat
Available for free on Renaissance and later starts

The first line is what I have a problem with. 50% of ALL a city's food? After EACH population addition? And it stores this food.....where, and for what?

I am sure the answer is easy, but I'm not seeing it!

 

[DwWinnebagos]

When your food bar fills up to grow your pop one, it only drops down to half full instead of empty.

 

[botski]

Aha! Thanks DwWinnebagos.

 

[jeremiahrounds]

the health thing is this:
your city has a total health. If your pop is over the cities health then subtract the cities population from the cities health. This is the number of wheats that are lost right off the top of your total wheat production.

So if your city is 10 and your health is 8. You have a -2 to your wheat production. So if your over the top of what you need to eat wheat production is 3 and it is now 1 and your only applying 1 wheat to your growth.

Youll know your city is having trouble with health if it has a green smiley face similiar to next to its name (if that option is on). Its important to correct that green face if you can its hampering your growth.