§ 968. Manner of payment of proceeds to owner of particular or future estate. Whenever the whole or a part of the proceeds of a sale represents the interest of a particular estate, and also represents one or more other interests subsequent thereto, the power to determine whether the owner of the particular estate shall receive, in satisfaction of his estate or interest, a sum in gross or shall receive the earnings, as they accrue, of a sum invested for his benefit in permanent securities at interest, rests in the discretion of the court, except that if all parties affected shall have agreed either to the payment of a sum in gross or the investment of the proceeds the court shall, by order, give effect to such agreement. The application of the owner of any such particular estate for the award of a sum in gross shall be granted unless the court finds that unreasonable hardship is likely to be caused thereby to the owner of some other interest in the affected real property. The application for the award of a sum in gross by the owner of some interest in the affected real property other than the owner of the particular estate shall be granted if the court finds that the granting of such application is equitable under the circumstances.