If any landlord making such advances shall prove by affidavit to the satisfaction of the clerk of the court of the county in which such crop is that the person to whom such advances have been made is about to sell or dispose of his crop or in any other way is about to defeat the lien herein provided for and shall accompany such affidavit with a statement of the amount then due, such clerk may issue his warrant, directed to any of the sheriffs of this State, requiring them to seize such crop and, after due notice, sell it for cash and pay over the net proceeds thereof, or so much thereof as may be necessary, in extinguishment of the amount then due.