Whenever labor is performed under contract on shares of crops, such crops shall be gathered and divided off before they are removed from the place where they were planted, harvested or gathered. Such division shall be made by a disinterested person, when desired by either party to the contract, and such disinterested party shall be chosen by and with the consent of the contracting parties. Whenever the parties fail to agree upon any disinterested person or, if complaint is made that the division has been unfairly made within ten days after such division, the magistrate residing nearest the place where such crop is planted, harvested or gathered shall cause, under his immediate supervision, such equitable division as may be stipulated in the contract. Such disinterested person or magistrate shall receive reasonable compensation for such service, to be paid by both of the contracting parties according to their several interests, except in cases of an attempt wilfully to defraud the other by one of the contracting parties and then such compensation shall be paid by the party so attempting to defraud the other. When such division has been made each party shall be free to dispose of their several portions as to him may seem fitting. But if either party be in debt to the other for any obligation incurred under contract, the amount of such indebtedness may be then and there settled and paid by such portion of the share or shares of the party so indebted as may be agreed upon by the parties themselves or set apart by the magistrate or any party chosen to divide such crop.