All owners of property to be appropriated shall take notice of the confirmation of the report of the commissioners as to the assessment of benefits, and any owner of property to be appropriated may, within ten days after such confirmation, file with the clerk his request that the assessment of damages made by the commissioners be set aside as to his property and that the damages be assessed by a jury. If such exceptions are filed by several property owners, the issues may, by their consent filed in the cause, be tried as one case by the same jury, the verdict to show the amounts allowed to the several defendants separately as to each lot, tract or parcel of land; otherwise the issues shall be tried separately. The judge shall set the time for trial, allowing a reasonable time for preparation.