It shall be the duty of the railroad companies of this state to furnish any grower of peaches, apples, cantaloupes, watermelons, or other perishable products with suitable icing and refrigerator cars or other suitable cars for the transportation of such products, whenever application is made therefor in writing by the shipper 24 hours in advance of the time such cars are wanted for loading. Such application shall be filed with the nearest agent of the railroad company to the point from which shipment is to be made and shall state the time and place from which shipment is desired.